Glasner Praises Palace Performance in Dominant Fiorentina Victory

Palace seized control of their quarter-final clash with a convincing 3-0 triumph in the first leg at Selhurst Park.

Jean-Philippe Mateta netted his first goal since New Year’s Day by converting a penalty in the first half, followed by Tyrick Mitchell, who extended the lead after Mateta’s penalty was blocked. Ismaila Sarr capped off the evening with a late third goal, securing a comprehensive victory.

“What mattered most to me was the performance tonight,” Glasner remarked. “Particularly in the first half and during the last 20 to 25 minutes.

“It was a truly fantastic display filled with great energy, playing exceptionally well, applying pressure, and continuously attacking the box, particularly with the ball in behind. The second goal was a perfect example of this, involving Dani Munoz and Daichi (Kamada)’s assist.

“That was our strategy. We understood that they were going to be very compact, but we managed to penetrate behind their defence, creating numerous opportunities. It was brilliant to witness.

“On the flip side, we also recognised, particularly for about 15 or 20 minutes after half-time, just how good Fiorentina can be in those situations. We were fortunate to have the crossbar and Dean Henderson come to our rescue at that moment.

“Fiorentina came out more aggressively in the second half, and we lost possession far too quickly. However, overall, the energy here at Selhurst, from our fans and the team, was fantastic. I’m genuinely thrilled with what I saw today.

“The first step has been taken, but we need to secure the second one in Florence next week.”

He continued: “We must also recognise that we are up against a very skilled Italian side, who might dominate the momentum for about 15 minutes.

“Yet, we didn’t let it frustrate us. We kept our composure and believed we could regain the momentum, and that’s exactly what we accomplished.

“In the end, we were very close to adding a fourth goal – it truly was a remarkable performance.”