Crystal Palace are European finalists. Selhurst has never witnessed the like of this before

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Take it all in.” That seemed to be his message.  They obliged. Almost to a person they were on their feet in the stands. Then the final whistle blew. “We Love You” reverberated around Selhurst Park. Hands clapped in unison and arms spread wide as they sang along to Glad All Over. This was the moment Palace reached the UEFA Conference League final. Selhurst Park had not witnessed anything of the like in its 102-year history. The songs rang out: “Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, we’re going to Germany,” “We’re on our way, to Leipzig, we’re on our way,” and, most emotionally of all, “Stand up if you love Palace”, led not by the vociferous Holmesdale stand but by those in the Arthur Wait. Regardless, everyone rose to their feet. They knew well before full-time came that their team were in the final. They may not end up remembering precisely how they got there, such will be the celebrations in south London. They certainly will not care how they got there. In the end, progress was assured via an own-goal — a deflection off the knee of Shakhtar Donetsk defender Pedro Henrique — and then a goal that dribbled in off the post, the ball prodded onto the woodwork by Ismaila Sarr from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross. Both goals had their beauty in the build up, though. Not that anyone in red and blue cares. Even with Eguinaldo’s superb equaliser on the night from the Ukrainian side, the result was put beyond doubt by that opening goal, thanks largely to the vision and execution of Adam Wharton and then a helping hand from the irrepressible Daniel Munoz. Selhurst Park enjoyed probably it’s greatest ever night, an atmosphere unrivalled in its joy. Palace are within touching distance of the finest achievement in their history. Glasner’s side may have started out as favourites for this competition, but it has challenged the group in ways they probably had not envisaged. Progression through the group and knockout phase has called upon all their spirit, their knowhow and resilience. The further they have gone, the trickier nights have been navigated even if a nervousness has been present throughout. Determination and belief have never strayed too far, though, and quality has ultimately seen them through. The support from the stands has been unswerving. For all that many fans had already booked travel to Germany with a 3-1 lead against Shakhtar Donetsk secured in the first leg of this semi-final last week, there was inevitably some tension to endure in the return fixture. But they ensured it never seeped onto the pitch. The music had stopped with a few minutes to go before kick-off. Red and blue flags covered the Holmesdale Road end and Glad All Over, sung organically with no music to back it, filled the silence beautifully. There was no doubt they were ready. Every decision was contested. The complaints at every inch stolen at a throw in by a Shakhtar player was loudly hollered. Every possible advantage the locals could offer their team, they made absolutely sure they delivered it — even when it no longer really mattered. Palace managed this game perfectly. The visitors’ onslaught was expected and came early, with two excellent chances within the opening five minutes. But, just as in the first leg, Shakhtar spurned those opportunities, undermined by a lack of composure. The strategy was to sit back, manage the pressure, resist and then hit on the counter. Those few moments and the equaliser aside, Palace stifled attacks with all 11 players behind the ball, sitting resolutely in formation. Then they sprung forward with verve and speed. The gameplan was executed effectively. “We trusted in ourselves,” Glasner said in his post-match press conference. “Maybe in the beginning (of the competition) we didn’t have this trust, this confidence. It (was) new, we didn’t know how it goes, the opposition adjusted more to our game.” The Austrian’s relationship with much of the fanbase has been fractured since his public outbursts over the winter, but there was even a rendition of “We’ve got super Oli Glasner” with 20 minutes remaining. While that chorus rang out, however briefly and even with the summer divorce inevitable, all felt forgiven. That in itself was significant. His team are in a European final, an achievement that, regardless of this being the lesser of the three UEFA competitions, ranks among the greatest in the club’s history. It should not have been this competition, of course, but Palace have a chance to use that simmering sense of injustice at being denied entry to the Europa League to drive them on in Leipzig, even if the extra motivation is hardly necessary. Now they have one final hurdle to overcome — and it remains a significant one. Rayo Vallecano will be a difficult opponent, with an almost identical domestic league record to that of Palace and clean sheets in both legs of their semi-final against Strasbourg indicating a resolute defensive structure. They summoned 22 shots in France, too. Their 2-0 aggregate win could have been far more emphatic. But Palace will not be daunted. The past two and a half years under Glasner suggest they can once again achieve something about which no one would even have dared to dream. That “sweet honey” of which he has repeatedly spoken is more alluring than ever. He consistently points to the importance of having already achieved in the most important games; in the FA Cup final and the Community Shield, and even in this competition. It is no longer so daunting. On the one hand this is uncharted territory. On the other, they have been here before. “I was enjoying it,” Glasner said of the atmosphere at the end of the game. “I told the players afterwards this was the emotional reward. You can’t buy these moments, you have to deserve them. When you have already shown something, you know you can do it again. You can’t be successful if you don’t believe in yourself and your team-mates.”  This team, guided by their manager, has turned up in the biggest moments. They did so yet again when it mattered. The knowledge gained in each game of this competition will be essential in a fortnight, as will his experience of winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022. Any advantage matters now. Glasner has guided Palace to their best ever moments, brought unprecedented success and shifted the club’s mindset. That approach is the one they will need to take to the final. That will give them every chance of success. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms