Why 'sensational' Palace & Conference League are good fit

ByGary Rose

BBC Sport journalist

Almost a year ago Crystal Palace fans experienced a day they will have felt could never be topped.

On Saturday, 17 May 2025, their side famously beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup - a first major trophy success in their 120-year history as a professional club.

It was a once-in-a-life-time moment for those connected with the Eagles - but they will now be pinching themselves once again as they find themselves just one step away from a first major European final appearance.

Making their debut in this competition, Palace booked a meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League semi-finals after overcoming Italians Fiorentina over two legs.

They lost the second leg on Thursday 2-1 but after winning the opener 3-0 at Selhurst Park, the fans who had travelled to Italy were determined not to let anything spoil their party.

Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson summed up the feeling as he told TNT Sports: "This is unbelievable for this football club, sensational when you think of the FA Cup last season and then to keep going and create a new chapter in the book.

"The togetherness in the group is phenomenal and at the business end of the season, we come together.

"We've just got to keep pushing on and build momentum."

When the Conference League was first introduced back in 2021 there were some who questioned the value of the competition.

But it has offered many teams the chance to do something they had never done before - win a major European trophy.

There were wild scenes of celebration when Roma became the inaugural winners, while the following year West Ham claimed a dramatic last-minute success against Fiorentina to end their 43-year wait for a major trophy.

Thousands gathered in the streets of east London to welcome back the victorious Hammers, underlining how much the win meant to the club and their supporters.

Palace fans will no doubt feel the same should their side go all the way and claim yet more silverware in a memorable 12 months.

Former Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins said on TNT Sports: "The last couple of seasons have been incredible.

"They never expected to be in a European competition a couple of seasons ago but now they are going from strength to strength in this competition.

"They will feel they can go all the way."

Midway through this season, though, it looked like things were derailing for Palace.

The man who had led them to their FA Cup triumph, Oliver Glasner, seemed on the verge of leaving after criticising the club's ownership in January for "abandoning" the team.

Palace were on a poor run of form at the time which had seen them drop down the table, while they finished 10th in the Conference League group phase.

On 16 January Glasner stated he would leave at the end of the season when his contract expired - an announcement that left Palace fans concerned about the rest of the campaign.

But after that confirmation and Glasner remaining in the post, the club's form steadily improved. After beating Zrinjski Mostar over two legs in their Conference League play-off, they have since beaten AEK Larnaca and now Fiorentina to reach the last four.

Key to their form in Europe has been striker Ismaila Starr, who scored his seventh goal in the competition in Thursday's 2-1 loss.

Five of those seven goals have come since February, while he has scored 17 in all competitions.

"The variety of goals he scores are key," said ex-Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott.

"He has always scored good goals but the less glamorous ones that are equally important, he has added them to his game."

Despite being debutants, Palace were installed as favourites to win the Conference League at the start of the season.

It took a while for them to live up to that tag, with many of their performances in Europe looking somewhat turgid.

But their 3-0 win against Fiorentina - two-time finalists in the Conference League - showed what they are capable of.

Next up for Palace is a two-legged semi-final with Shakhtar, with Strasbourg facing Rayo Vallecano in the other tie.

"They made light work of them [Fiorentina] really, but from here on in they will expect some really tough games, there is some good quality in the competition," added Tomkins.

"The question is whether they can bring the positivity from the first leg. That was the best I've seen them for a while, the three-week break did them the world of good and they looked like the team we saw early this season and last season."

The season will end with Glasner's departure, but it could also end with a European prize.

"Of course, that is what we all want," said the Austrian.

"We want to enjoy our life together, not just the football. The more successful you are, the more you enjoy your life.

"When you play the semi-final, you want to get it all at the end and that's what we will go for."