Crystal Palace have booked their place in the Conference League final after a commanding 5-2 aggregate victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. The Eagles completed the job with a 2-1 win in the second leg, sealing a dominant performance across both matches.
Following the match, key figures from the Palace squad shared their thoughts with TNT Sports. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson and striker Jean-Philippe Mateta were interviewed alongside former club captain Joel Ward, who was part of the broadcast crew.
Henderson spoke openly about the physical and mental demands placed on the squad this season. He pointed to the challenge of competing on multiple fronts with a relatively small group of players, a factor that has tested the team's resilience throughout the campaign.
The goalkeeper also drew a direct line between the team's recent success and the confidence gained from winning the FA Cup. That trophy, he suggested, provided a crucial psychological boost that has fueled the squad's belief in their ability to compete at the highest level.
Mateta and Henderson both emphasized the collective ambition within the dressing room. The players are not content with simply reaching the final; their stated goal is to win the tournament and secure the tangible reward that comes with it.
That reward is a place in the Europa League. Henderson specifically referenced this objective, noting that winning the final would allow the club to "get what we deserve." This comment alludes to the fact that Palace originally qualified for the Europa League, making a Conference League triumph a pathway back to that higher tier of European competition.
The victory over Shakhtar Donetsk represents a significant milestone for Crystal Palace. It marks the club's first appearance in a major European final, a historic achievement that underscores the progress made under the current management and playing squad.
Based on reporting from Football | The Guardian.
