The Debrief: Crystal Palace win the Conference League

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1:15So cut the bull spend. Advertise on LinkedIn, the network that works for you. Spend$250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a 250 credit for the next Just go to linkedin.com slash broadcast. That's linkedin.com slash broadcast. Terms and conditions apply. On the Football Daily podcast, The Debrief with Mark Chapman. Welcome to the Football Daily. Crystal Palace have won their first ever European trophy. They beat Raya Vallecano 1-0 in the Conference League final in Leipzig. So that now means three trophies in 12 months for the club. Let's take you to the moment where they won it. Here's Alistair Bruce.

2:02I can see the whistle in the referee's lips. They have done it. It's another trophy for Crystal Palace. What an incredible 12 months it has been for this football club. Just over a year ago, it was the FA Cup final at Wembley, won by Eberechi Ezza. and then a year later on a beautiful barbie night in Leipzig they celebrate again they win a European trophy in their first ever European campaign the Community Shield has come in between that as well 120 years without a trophy and now they've got three in the cabinet what is it they say about those London buses what a win for Crystal Palace what a night for the fans what a job Oliver Glasner and his players have done to give these fans a night they will never ever forget Mateta with the winner and the celebrations again belong to Crystal Palace they've won in Europe memories memories made for a lifetime just listen at that noise after the final whistle the Crystal Palace supporters they've done themselves proud and their team have done them proud as well they've been absolutely excellent on the field tonight it's not been the prettiest of games at times but they've worked hard they've stuck to the game plan the big players in the big moments adam warton mateta they've stepped up when it was really asked of them and they've found a way crystal palace against a difficult opponent many many special memories made here tonight and the scenes and the pictures that will last forever brilliant occasion crystal palace players all embracing hugging rejoicing on the pitch via carno players beaten consoling each other the right hand side of the stadium awash with joy and singing and noise as it has been all night crystal palace starting the final as favorites tonight scrappy first half weren't at their best but came out as a totally different team at the start of the second half and Jean-Philippe Mateta is the man to score the crucial goal to win the latest trophy in what's been a roller coaster an incredible 12 months or so for Crystal Palace Football Club they've beaten Viacano by a goal to nil and there are embraces everywhere on that pitch in the Leipzig arena at the moment, Dean Henderson and Oliver Glasner embracing whilst teammates and other players dance.

4:44And as far as the match is concerned, Paul, once they scored, they then kept Rai Vaikano at arm's length, didn't they? They were the better side, they looked like the Premier League side, we always talk about the Premier League and it being such a strong league, and you look at the fact that two English clubs have won two European competitions already and we've got another one to come at the weekend with Arsenal there. You see the dominance of the Premier League side. Palace went into this as favourites, but the first half was nervy, it was edgy, they didn't play to their full potential and it was almost like Oliver Glasner had said that to them at half-time.

5:15Like, you are better than these. Believe in yourself, take more opportunities, press higher up their field, take more risks and impose your strength on the game. And that's exactly what they did. They looked like the better side in the second half and their goal was never troubled. I can't actually think of a Dean Henderson save no he didn't he was very very underemployed from a Vallecano point of view we analysed their team before the game and we looked at the goals that they haven't scored and they are pretty toothless they create chances but they don't really take many chances and saying that tonight Palace kept them at bay very very well they protected Dean Henderson excellently and kept everything in front of him outside the box I don't know if Clinton's there yet are you there Clinton?

5:56no I'm here I've been listening the whole time, you know what I mean? I thought you got on a lap of your house to celebrate the victory. I could have done that but I'm professional, I'm just trying to be professional. You don't have to... He hasn't got time to get around his house. I knew that was coming. You don't have to be professional at all. Oh, moments like this is what you live for, Chappers, and yeah, it's fantastic, the club deserve it. When you're born and bred in South London, you get special moments. I was there at the FA Cup when they beat Man City and to watch it here with my family is, yeah, it's amazing.

6:30What a great achievement from Crystal Palace. But yeah, this is a special one tonight because I just listened to Robbo and what Ali was saying and I think the 15 minutes, 20 minutes after halftime, I thought Palace were outstanding and that's where they won the game. Because these are moments that many a Crystal Palace fan, probably the majority of Crystal Palace fans, would never have thought they would ever see. And that's never a criticism of players or of the board or a manager. But history tells you, or it did up until 12 months ago, history tells you that Crystal Palace fans don't see this.

7:10Yeah, I didn't see it. I didn't think I'd see this in my lifetime. I'll be honest with you. I didn't think they'd win two major trophies like they've won. So, as I said, huge credit to everyone at that football club from the hierarchy down. and they employed a manager in Oliver Glasner who not a lot of us knew about Chappers when he came to the Premier League and knew what he'd done at Frankfurt but I didn't think he'd have the impact that he's had on Crystal Palace and this is what I'm saying, you've always got to keep believing. Every team can do it. Palace can go on and do it. Every team can go on and do it.

7:39It's a great achievement from everyone at that football club. Talk to me about Mateta's finish which is... But he'll never win a goal of the month but it's instinctive and the ball comes to him quickly off the goalkeeper Chappers I made a living out of that I couldn't strike a ball from outside the box but one thing you do they're the best goals the reaction goals I think Adam Wharton does ever so well and the keeper parries it thinks he parries it into the danger I mean away from the goal and Mateta reacts quickly and it's a difficult finish because you have to control that if you get the wrong contact it can go wide it can go over the bar but he controls it ever so well it might not even have hit his boot it might have hit his shin but yeah it's a good well controlled finish but what I liked about him he's in the six yard box and that's where you want your strikers and he's the first one to react he reacts before the defenders and it's a really good finish from Mateta who I thought deserved it I thought he led the line ever so well and I said it I said it to Palace fans a few months ago I said you'll need Mateta not worth booing him stick with him because he'll have a big moment in the season and what has he done he's had a big moment tonight is is that the key to his goal the the the anticipation yeah and he's in the air so he reacts so he's the one expects the defenders it's difficult for them to to react but he's the one who reacts he sees adam warren shot he sees the goalkeepers gonna parry it and some everyone says oh it's just fortunate you're in the right place at the right time you react as a striker because you don't you see a lot of strikers they're the first ones to react in and around the six yard box and i still think he's got a bit to do everyone says ice and easy finish he should score you've seen strikers miss from there so he reacts ever so well and I just like that he's in and amongst it in the six yard box too many times chapter you see strikers outside the box he was alive inside the box he said to TNT post-match I feel fantastic I feel fantastic we did it first time in Europe now it's time to celebrate crazy moment it's incredible we gave everything intensity I'm tired right now I give everything the team did everything and that's why we win today.

9:42I'm always with them, with the fans. They support me as a player a lot. We did it for them too. You've got to admire his rise through the seasons, haven't you? Oh, definitely. I remember it when Dougie, when he signed, I said to Dougie, this guy, no way I'm not having him. Why weren't you having him? Look, he couldn't control a football. He was nowhere near. I just thought every time it came up to him, it was bouncing off him. It didn't look like he was going to score goals. And I remember doing an interview with him, Chappas, at the start of the season at the training ground. And what a lovely guy, by the way, one of my favourite footballers.

10:16And he was just saying he didn't really have the confidence back then. He always believed in himself, but managers didn't believe in himself. You know what changed, Chappas? He tucked his shirt in and he was unstoppable after he tucked his shirt in. There was no looking back. He's the old-fashioned centre-forward, but his rise has been outstanding. And the more you believe in him, the more confidence he gets. and look, he's won this and he's going to the World Cup with France. It could be a great summer for him. When you did that interview with him, were you honest with him that you weren't having him at the start?

10:46Yeah, yeah, it was a masterclass of finishing. So you know where he scored today. That's all I'm going to say, Chaps. Oh, right, OK. I'll just leave it there. But yeah, I did tell him that. I did tell him that. Because you told him to tuck his shirt and you've turned his career around. No, I told him to be in a six-yard box and tap it in, Robbo. He has been vital for them, Paul, hasn't he? Oh, he's been superb. and the way that they play with that figurehead as a number nine. And like we said about him today in the first half, he had a fairly quiet game and he struggled to find space. He was getting crowded out by their two central defenders.

11:15But because he's such a big unit, because he's such a big presence, he attracts the attention of others around him, which then allows others on his side to pick up the space, to run into the gaps that are left by the central defenders that he's occupying. He's a real handful. Clinton Morrison and Paul Robinson are with us and Alistair Bruce Ball is watching the start of the presentation. The officials are just going through or have just gone through and the Palace players are forming a guard of honour, Ali, for Raya Viacano. Yeah, we've been talking about it for the last couple of days, the mutual respect between the two clubs, the organisations, the sets of fans and the players as well.

11:53So it's the victors and the vanquished. The vanquished are Viacano, the Palace supporters all around us applauding the beaten Spanish team who slowly trudged towards that stage. Just while you were talking to Clinton and Paul there, Mark, I was actually watching Viacano. And as a team, and I know they regularly do this after every game, particularly the home games, they actually climbed over the advertising hoardings and stood arm in arm as an entire squad and just shared, I mean, it was five, six minutes they were standing there just looking at their fans, their fans applauding them and singing at them.

12:26That connection will never die and they'll hope for great moments, great nights like this again, but they're not the ones to win the trophy. That big moment is coming for Crystal Palace soon. Absolutely, and by winning the Conference League, they're into the Europa League for next season, and it means that so far English clubs have had two finals and won two. The Europa League last week with Aston Villa, the Conference League now with Palace. Glasner's just won. Oh, I don't believe it. Oliver Glasner's done the Klinsmann. he's gone running down the tunnel of the Palace players, he got the Palace fans going beforehand and he's done a full out full frontal dive before going up to the stage to collect his medal and there is someone you always think is very dry and very straight you know and barely cracks a smile and that that was that was brilliant.

13:19Just had a big embrace with the chairman as well, just had a big embrace, exchanged words as he's going up walking past the trophy, I'm not so sure this story's finished you know I want to get Clinton's opinion after this okay so Oliver Glasner is up there straight face back on again now he's had his fun he's standing there with his medal and he's waiting for his players Dean Henderson the club captain the first team captain the goalkeeper is about to get his hands on another precious prize for Crystal Palace Football Club FA Cup last year Community Shield at the start of the season but a European trophy tonight as the glitter and the fireworks go off, Dean Henderson lifts the trophy above his head, rejoicing teammates jumping up and down behind him in celebration goal glitter falling everywhere all over the pitch Jean-Philippe Mateta the goal scorer showing off some dance moves and a night these Crystal Palace fans who were here to witness it in Leipzig will never ever forget.

14:27Crystal Palace have won a European trophy.

14:51You're terrible. Kate's taken down commentators. You've wiped the floor with our commentator, Kate. How does it feel? It feels nice. Football chants from the gods. Take me home. I did wrong. The less said about the host, the better. Patrick Kilty. Saturdays from 9. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily Podcast. The Debrief. With Mark Chapman. There are great scenes in Leipzig for Crystal Palace and their fans. Is Glasner with them, Ali, or has he gone to see a physio? That's the moment of the night, isn't it? I know, isn't it? The Oliver Glasner. Where is he? No, he's at the back. He's at the back, so the players are front and centre here.

15:38And Oliver Glasner, yes, he's just behind them. Dean Henderson is in the penalty area, way to our right. And Oliver Glasner is there with a big smile on his face and clapping his hands at the Palace fans. The other thing that you saw on the pictures as well, Clint, I know whether you saw it, was that Adam Wharton had a water bottle and therefore he actually prepared the turf beforehand to make it exactly how his manager would want it. Yeah, I've seen him making it all greasy and that. I'm like Ali and you and Robbo and Chappas, I've never seen him like that, Oliver Glasner. He's always serious and stuff like that.

16:12So to see those kind of emotions is brilliant to be fair and fair play for him. So what are you thinking then, Paul? I just don't know if the chapter's finished. I was speaking to Ali through the commentary, and you're looking at all the big jobs that are slowly closing up if you're thinking that Maresca's getting Manchester City, Mourinho back to Real Madrid, Xavi Alonso in at Chelsea, the big jobs with the big names, Areola's obviously left Bournemouth, all these big names and the big jobs that are all linked. I just don't know. Is there any way Clinton can persuade him? I was exactly like you, mate, and I went to a game about a month ago, I was like, yeah, surely he's going to be staying.

16:49Surely he's going to be staying. There's no more jobs. But they were adamant that he's made his mind up and he's decided he wants a different challenge. Even if he has to wait or it's someone somewhere in Europe, he's one of those. Once he makes his mind up, he sticks with it. But I'm like you, Robbo. You never know. I'm like you. You never know. Because I thought exactly like you, Robbo. What job is available? You'll be playing, doing Europa League again next season and trying to go for it there and do well in the Premier League. so you never know, I hope he does stay but I don't think he will.

17:19And for Palace to actually make a stance to go to that next level, to not be that club that finishes 10th or 12th, not to be that club that has a good run in the cup one year and is always mid-table and the aim is to survive, you keep a manager like that, you try and make a statement and then you keep the players, you keep Mateta and you build from what you've got rather than regress because if they lose Mateta, if they lose one or two more players and the manager it's a whole rebuild and they're almost back to where they were two years ago do you not think that that that would be the issue for glasner if he's under his watch if he's lost gay and lost as a and matessa may go and wharton or that he may just think do you know what even if even if there isn't something else out there at the moment yeah i'll bide i'll bide my time he's he's found the ceiling hasn't he he's taken these to the ceiling with what he's got here with the budget he's got with the stadium that they've got with the squad that's available to him he has massively overachieved let's not you know let's not underestimate what they've done what he's achieved at Crystal Palace FA Cup European football and winning a European competition it's been fantastic for them and to actually take this group of players on they need investment they need to go to that next level but if the club's not ready to go to that next level they'll always be here let's head to Selhurst Park plenty of fans are there have we been watching on the big screen there with BBC Radio London's Emma Jones I'm here with a couple enjoying the trophy lift at the moment Palace are European champions how does that sound?

18:56Unbelievable, been coming for so many years never been like this just a really special night Did it have to be Jean-Philippe Mateta? Yeah. Did it have to be Mateta? Yeah. He's the best striker. Were you ever doubting it in this remarkable journey with a trophy being lifted? Around about Christmas time when Oli said that he was going to go and things weren't looking too good. Mateta was going to go, but in fairness, turned it around. now we're here, end of the season all brilliant it's been a great season and it means more European football next season exciting, maybe we'll get over there you fancy a trip to Europe next season?

19:45yeah! well done guys some of the fans are at Selhurst Park, I mean you can flip it the other way here can't you and you can be a bit worried Clinton about who might leave and and Glasner going and so forth, but then you can go, well, hang on a minute, look what they've done this last 12 months, now they've got Europa League football, so they may have finished 15th in the Premier League, but they've got more European football next season, and I take Paul's point about investment is needed, but there will be a lot of managers who will fancy Palace because they will see them at a different level to where they were two years ago.

20:28100 % and that's the job that Oliver Glasner's done at that football club Listen, chap, as everyone knows, there's a name out there at the moment and if Palace were to get him, it'd be an unbelievable coup and he's been linked to the job, Iriola so he's the one that everyone's talking about and you know when rumours start, you always think to yourself could it come true? You never know, but that's a manager who I would love to come to Palace everyone would say it is a sideways step I totally get from what he's done at Bournemouth. But if that comes off, then I'd be buzzing and over the moon. But that's one of those where you just say, let's watch this space at the moment.

21:07Robbo's right, though. They're already losing Kamada because he's out of contract and he's not signing a new contract because that was a Glasner signing. And I thought he was brilliant in midfield alongside Adam Watt. So they are going to lose players. As I said, it's a rebuilding one. But if I'm a manager, I'd want to come to Crystal Palace just because of the players that they've got there. and the potential that the club's got. Do you think there is a genuine possibility that it could be Ereola? Yeah, I do. I actually do. I think Palace will throw everything to try and get him to the football club.

21:40I do actually think that. There's a few other names that were in the frame that everyone's probably heard of, but he was probably, you look at it, the number one candidate. And if they don't get him, you'll know this anyway, clubs always have a second or a third option, but I think he's the number one option. and if they were to get someone like that, wow, what a signing. And it might encourage players like Adam Walton just to do another year, if possible, because he's still only 22 years of age and I don't want him to go to a big club and not be a regular like he is at Crystal Palace. What do you think, Paul?

22:11Yeah, I think if you look at a manager like Areola, then you can understand them if they're quite happy to let Glasner go. That then is staying at this level and maybe progressing to the next level because Areola is not going to come to Crystal Palace unless he's given the assurances that Glasner would have wanted, i.e. the squad rebuild, the money, the investment, signing players, keeping players and getting the players that he wants. So I don't think this would be a job for him with this squad, without Mateta, without Kamada and without potentially Wharton and others. He wouldn't want to rebuild this, but if he can keep this and build on this with the promises, then I think that would be a statement from Crystal Palace if they were to get a manager of his calibre.

22:48It would also be, again, I sort of go back to history, rather more than the modern day alley, but it would be astonishing if Palace were able to get him, with rumours circling that he may well have turned down AC Milan. Yeah. Right? So, and given the all-conquering power of English clubs in Europe, that wouldn't half say a lot. Yeah, no, I know what you mean, and that is not, you know, damning clubs like Crystal Palace, but you're talking about the stature of a club like AC Milan, were that to be the decision, then yes. And, you know, also I'm thinking a little bit longer term, Palace now in the Europa League, and Donny Uriola has just left Bournemouth, who'll be playing in the Europa League next season.

23:34So you could eventually get a situation, you know, where the two come up against each other. I do think Paul is right. I think you would definitely want assurances if you were going to come in and replace Oliver Glasner and try and repeat the sort of success, particularly in the knockout cup competitions that he has had in terms of what you were going to have at your disposal because I think they will be you know really big shoes to fill and and it will be a difficult job but then again you know we're not in on those conversations so so I don't know I don't know and I do think Paul you know this question is going to come to Oliver Glasner after this final straight away and I know he'll bat it away but it but it will be have you definitely made that decision is there no way you've changed your mind because there's 18 ,000 Palace fans inside this stadium, having seen the old Klinsman dive, who might be thinking, come on, Oliver, we'd like a little bit more of that.

24:25Adam Waters just spoke to TNT. He said, I missed out on the FA Cup celebrations. I can't put these feelings into words. It's incredible. You can see what it means to South London and the fans. And on Oliver Glaser, he said this. He said, last game as Palace manager, the difference he's made is incredible. First three trophies in the history of the club. He's got to be one of the best managers Palace have ever had. We're not just looking to stay in the Premier League. He's completely changed the way the club looks at competitions. We don't just want to be in Europe, we want to win it. And maybe for all the talk of, you know what, Clijton, of tactics and 3-4-3 and recruitment and so on and so forth, he changed the mentality at Crystal Palace.

25:13That's what he did. 100 % yeah because all Palace sometimes he's just happy to stay in the Premier League no in all cup competitions he'd always play his strongest team he wouldn't rotate or do anything like that he'd just play his strongest team and I like that and he's changed the mentality to say you've got to believe yourself and that is why I think he's took Palace as far as he can at the moment he knows there's not a lot of money in the football club and he can't have the players that he wants and that's why he probably wants a different challenge he's took the club to the highest ceiling that it can possibly go he thinks and now it's over to a new manager to come in the job he's done there has been brilliant and the next challenge in the job mark is as well as you know i mean if you if you think back to that fa cup final you know win last season two massive wins obviously beating aston villa convincingly in the semi then winning the final against manchester city and big performances in the latter stage of this competition but crystal palace have now played 13 consecutive seasons in the premier league and always finished between 10th and 15th so i you know and never i mean a couple of times i remember sam allardyce came in at one point and had to dig them out of a bit of trouble, but never really been in danger.

26:18But also, you know, the next shot probably consistently to try and push them on a bit more and see if they can, you know, top eight, top six is probably too far, isn't it, to ask? You don't know, do you? And actually, a final word to Paul and Clint on this. One of the things that winds me up more than anything is people within football who tell fans, be careful what you wish for. i.e. accept finishing 15th and never winning a cup and not doing anything you know palace palace have been brave with managerial appointments over the years some they get right and some they get wrong but but palace at palace are the example and and the ambition of every football fan i would argue at the moment who doesn't support a so-called big team because that that tonight and that at Wembley is what every football fan wishes for, isn't it?

27:20Yeah, I agree. I agree with you, Chappers. Every football fan does wish for that. Them sort of nights where you're in the Europa Conference League final, you can go over there with your family and watch a game and you're winning football matches and you get to celebrate it with your family. The FA Cup final where they were big underdogs. They were the favourites today, but there's big pressure on them. They were underdogs against Man City, but turned up and that was a special, special occasion. and I bet tonight over there in Leipzig a special occasion, and they do it the right way there at Crystal Palace, huge credit to them.

27:48And with the right people and the right spirit, and a little bit of luck along the way maybe, Paul, you are allowed to dream. Yeah, absolutely, but it's the old adage, isn't it? With success comes expectation, so there'll now be a level of expectation with this group of players, with this team, to push on to that next level. And I completely agree with what Ali's saying, when do you come out of that bubble? when do you come out of that comfort zone and have the investment and get the quality of players that takes you regularly to FA Cup finals, regularly deep in European competitions and competing in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

28:30We can hear now from Oliver Glasner. I just guided this group of players and their staff and I supported them And I said, you know, and this is, it's, and it's, it's, I really, this is because it's my, my 100 % conviction, so I can't do anything alone, you know, I could be the best magician, it wouldn't work without the players. and so it's all the the players deserve all the credit because they have to to listen they have to trust me and myself and the staff of course they have to work very hard and I think every player will will tell you that I'm very demanding so if things don't go how I think they should go or if players probably drop the standard by one or two percent I don't I can't accept it so I and this is just and then sometimes they're a little bit upset with me and I'm and that's fine but at the end I think they know that I want the best for every single one and I want the best for the team and this as soon as everybody understood this we just created a fantastic spirit you know and we we We always increase the standard and we said, okay, no, we don't drop it anymore because it makes fun and we see what is possible.

29:55And this is what I see as my job, to get everybody aligned in the way we are playing, in the way we are defending, in the way we are attacking and to get everybody aligned in the mindset we have. And therefore, you need great, of course, talented football players, but you need great characters because they have to follow and so they deserve all the credit and at the end it's now with one year delay that Crystal Palace, the players, the club and the supporters get what they have deserved last year after winning the fake-up and that's a spot in the Europa League. I see myself as a servant for the players, as a servant for the club and then somebody who who gives the direction.

30:41And of course, I told the players today in the meeting when we had it in the hotel because I got many messages from fans where they said thank you for the best day in my life and all the stuff and I really appreciate it. And I just told the players exactly the same. So I have to say thank you to the players. I have to say thank you to the supporters because it's the same. It's also another incredible day for me and for my family sharing these moments with my family here at Leipzig again. This is just a fantastic day, so I have to say thank you to the players because they have to do all the job.

31:17That's it for the next Football Daily EuroLeague, live in Budapest for a Champions League preview show.