Oliver Glasner expressed a sense of “something special” at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace achieved a convincing 3-0 win against Fiorentina in the first leg of their Conference League quarterfinal.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, making his first start since January, got Palace off to a strong start with a penalty in the first half. Tyrick Mitchell added a second goal before halftime, and Ismaila Sarr capped off the evening with a header right before fulltime, giving Palace a solid lead to take to the second leg next week.
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The Palace players showcased a more confident and comfortable game on Thursday night in south London, where both the team and fans seemed united in their goal to elevate the club’s performance.
“It’s a joy for everyone as long as this European journey continues,” Glasner noted. “Fiorentina is a prominent name in football, and many expected a tightly contested match, though recent games had led to expectations of a clear win.
“The circumstances were unique. I believe this helped create a distinct atmosphere tonight, one we always need when competing at this level. Participating in European competitions is a special experience, especially for the first time in our club’s history.
“Tonight, I sensed that there was something truly special, both in the atmosphere and in our performance.”
Mateta was included in the starting lineup following the suspension of Jørgen Strand Larsen and marked the occasion by scoring his first goal for Palace since New Year’s Day with a penalty in the 24th minute.
He nearly grabbed a second shortly after, hitting the post, but Palace still managed to extend their lead thanks to Mitchell, who capitalized on a rebound to score past David de Gea.
Sarr, a crucial player in Palace’s European campaign, finished off a well-placed cross from Daichi Kamada with a powerful header.
Some Palace fans were dissatisfied in January when Mateta expressed a desire to leave for AC Milan, only to be denied a move due to a knee injury.
When he returned to the pitch in mid-March, he received a mixed welcome, but on Thursday, he was given a warm send-off as he was substituted late in the match.
“JP deserves that recognition,” Glasner praised. “He always puts forth 100 percent effort for the team and has scored many important goals for us.
“He faced a tough period, unable to train for six weeks, yet he worked hard to come back. I’m thrilled for him and for Crystal Palace, as he is a fantastic player and a vital striker for us.
“I think he will need to rest ahead of our match against Newcastle [on Sunday], but it’s promising to have Jørgen Strand Larsen returning. Things are looking good right now.”