- Crystal Palace prepare for UECL semi-finals
- Jamie Carragher thinks more unthinkable than FA Cup glory
- Eagles can win third major trophy under Oliver Glasner
Jamie Carragher reckons nobody at Crystal Palace could ever have dreamed of potentially winning a European trophy. The Eagles’ debut European campaign is proving to be another memorable season for fans.
A 4-2 win over Fiorentina on aggregate in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals secured a place in the semi-finals for Oliver Glasner and his men. They are one step closer to reaching the final in Leipzig.
Standing in the way of another big day or night out with a trophy at stake is Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk. Beat them, and Glasner’s dream of leaving Selhurst Park as a European champion will be one game away.
Carragher: Conference League Would Be ‘Very Special’
Carragher spoke about Glasner’s legacy at Palace after watching the Eagles drew 0-0 to West Ham United. The Liverpool legend said on Sky Sports‘ Monday Night Football:
“That would be three trophies in two-and-a-half years. Listen, he’s going to go down as Crystal Palace’s greatest ever manager. He’ll wanna do even better in the league to get as close as he can to what Steve Coppell did.
Carragher added:
“He won the FA Cup and a European trophy for Crystal Palace, I mean, that is something probably nobody could ever dream about. You know you dream about winning the FA Cup as an English club, that’s normal, but to win a European trophy with Crystal Palace would be very special.”
Palace dreamt of winning any trophy, let alone the most famous domestic cup competition in world football. The famous day out at Wembley last season is one that Eagles supporters will cherish for their lifetimes.
But there is merit in Carragher’s claim over a European triumph, given it’s the very first time the club are playing in Europe. To go and win the Conference League and end Glasner’s reign with yet another major trophy is truly the stuff of dreams.
Can Palace Do It?
Well, the bookies certainly think Palace can win the Conference League, and Glasner’s men have been back to their best since the turn of the year. An unconvincing league phase raised doubts over the Eagles potentially lifting the trophy in Leipzig.
But the knockout stages have been somewhat of a breeze, first beating Bosnian minnows Zrinjski Mostar 3-1 on aggregate. They then defeated the tournament’s best defensive team, AEK Larnaca, 2-1 on aggregate.
The Fiorentina triumph is the one that truly has Palace believing they can go and win it. An emphatic 3-0 victory at Selhurst Park was the best performance of the season.
If Glasner can get his players performing at that level against Shakhtar, it bodes well. For now, he’ll want his men to focus on a trip to Anfield on Saturday to face Liverpool in the league.
