Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner described his side’s qualification for the quarter-finals of the Conference League as a “huge achievement”.
Palace edged past AEK Larnaca tonight, winning the second leg in Cyprus 2-1 thanks to an Ismaila Sarr double either side of Enric Saborit’s equaliser, to go through after a goalless first encounter in South London. Sarr also missed an open goal in the closing seconds of extra-time while AEK finished with nine men.
With no Premier League game this weekend due to the EFL Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City, Palace don’t have a fixture until the first leg of their last-eight clash with Fiorentina.
And Glasner is relishing the opportunity for a little break to savour their latest success.
“It’s a huge achievement,” he told TNT Sports. “We are looking forward to really make the best of these three weeks because our next competitive game is against Fiorentina at Selhurst Park.
“We will have a few days off and many of our players go to their national teams. And then we will prepare and make a friendly to stay in the rhythm.
“It’s good. I expect Eddie Nketiah back so everybody will help us because then it will be a very tight schedule until the end of the season and hopefully our European journey continues.”
Sarr was the architect of the win against AEK and, with better finishing, could have had a hat-trick.
England midfielder Adam Wharton said: “He’s been top. He’s been doing well in the Premier League as well. He’s been scoring goals and getting assists. He’s so quick!”
