Crystal Palace’s first house recreation in a significant European competitors did not go to plan as they have been crushed by AEK Larnaca, however supervisor Oliver Glasner mentioned “perhaps the entire surroundings wanted it to remain humble”.
Thursday was imagined to be Palace’s massive evening as Selhurst Park hosted a match in Europe for the primary time in its 101-year historical past.
There was an additional buzz at Selhurst station and inside the bottom a sell-out crowd was chanting Glasner’s identify and singing songs about final season’s FA Cup win.
Proper earlier than kick-off a surprising Dad’s Military-inspired tifo plotting out Palace’s path from south London to Might’s Convention League ultimate in Leipzig was unfurled, with a banner beneath saying “we’re the boys who will win your little recreation”.
The stadium has change into a fortress for Palace, who went into the sport towards the Cypriots unbeaten at house since February in all competitions.
However the Eagles’ play by no means mirrored the hype. Sure they created loads of probabilities, 15 in whole, however only one was on the right track.
Jean-Philippe Mateta hit the crossbar with a hooked volley from shut vary within the first half and substitute Eddie Nketiah ought to have levelled in a late rally from the hosts, however fully missed a unfastened ball from 5 yards out.
Does Glasner have some extent?
“You’re all the time advised if you play within the Premier League you win the Convention League,” mentioned the Palace boss.
“Keep humble. I do not know if any debutant [is able] to win the competitors. I do not suppose so.
“We are going to be taught from it, the gamers will be taught. It is disappointing, a irritating evening, however perhaps the entire surroundings wanted it to remain humble.”
