INTERVIEW: Steve Parish speaks to Mirror Football after Crystal Palace’s Europa League victory over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Oliver Glasner’s final game as manager.
Crystal Palace owners Steve Parish and Oliver Glassner
Steve Parrish confirmed there is no emotional shift regarding Oliver Glassner’s future. But Crystal Palace chairman insists the Austrian provides the perfect farewell to the club’s search for a successor.
“It’s unbelievable, I’m overjoyed for everyone,” Parrish said after the Eagles’ conference league victory in Leipzig.
“But Oliver’s not going to stay, no, he’s not going to stay. Listen, it’s a great ending, a happy ending. We’re really excited and I’m excited for him because he’s worked so hard.”
“There’s a lot of pressure on everyone. And, you know, sometimes pressure creates diamonds. That’s what we did tonight. It was a huge effort from everyone.”
“The important thing is that everyone always wanted the same thing for the football club. We had to find a way through some things. Oliver wants to leave and do other things, but he couldn’t have done more for us, right?”
“So we have to move forward too. We have to find someone who can help us grow and move us forward. And now we are in the Europa League, so we have to climb a bigger mountain.”
Andoni Iraola is set to leave Bournemouth despite qualifying for the Europa League and remains the Palace manager’s top target.
The Eagles are prepared to give him a key say in transfer matters to fend off rival interest from AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.
He is seen as a potential replacement if Reims manager Pierre Sarge, who won the Coupe de France, and Frank Lampard cannot reach an agreement.
Parrish continued, “Tonight is tonight, right? Tomorrow we’re going to be worrying about the future. Obviously, we’ve been[talking to different candidates]. This is definitely going to help, right?”
“Now the club has a lot more to offer. It helps with everything. It’s a great night for the club. I want to go and enjoy it.”
Parish, who called UEFA’s decision to relegate Palace to the Conference League last July a “gross injustice”, feels bridges have been built with the governing body.
Steve Parish celebrates Palace’s Conference League win with Oliver Glasner (Image: Getty Images)
He concluded after sitting next to UEFA president Alexander Ceferin at the Red Bull Arena. “He was a great guy and very kind.
“We had a nice dinner last night. Everything worked out in the end, right? Everything worked out, so it was great. He was a good guy. I had a lot of fun with him. He was great to be around, which was nice.”
Additionally, Daichi Kamata’s contract status is one of Palace’s top priorities.
The Japanese international, who won the Europa League under Eintracht Frankfurt manager Glasner, is currently scheduled to become a free agent this summer.
Meanwhile, the club have also activated the option to extend versatile midfielder Jefferson Lerma’s stay at Selhurst Park by another year.
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