Crystal Palace: Steve Parish hails Oliver Glasner's 'winning mentality' as Eagles eye Europe | OneFootball

Manager’s positive attitude and faith of fans have been instrumental in dazzling run to FA Cup final

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish believes the Eagles have established a new “winning mentality” under manager Oliver Glasner and can qualify for Europe this season even if they lose the FA Cup final.

Palace are currently 12th in the league, six points behind eighth-place Fulham, but have another chance of playing continental football next term after Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Parish, 59, has been Palace chairman for 15 years and previously oversaw them reaching the FA Cup final in 2016, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United after extra time.

“I honestly think it’s harder to get into Europe, for Premier League teams, than it is to do OK in Europe,” Parish said after Palace’s win at Wembley.

“I don’t think Manchester United or Tottenham would mind me saying they haven’t had the best of seasons, but they’re in the [Europa League] semi-finals. The Premier League is an all-powerful league and you’re tested every week.

Oliver thinks we can win every game against anyone... he’s made all of us think differently

Steve Parish on Oliver Glasner

Parish was asked whether he believes Glasner and Palace can beat City — finalists for a third straight year — in next month’s FA Cup showpiece.

“I hope so,” he said. “Oliver thinks we can win every game against anyone. Some people say positive things but don’t live it.

“Oliver lives those things. That’s genuinely how he is. He’s made all of us think differently. That’s what he’s brought to the club: positivity, and a mentality.

“I’m 15 years in and I’m still just as nervous. I don’t know how I got through the last 20 minutes. My heart was beating, I was checking my Fitbit.

“The penalty miss was a really key moment, and if it wasn’t for the fans and the character of these guys, it could turn at that point. But the fans didn’t miss a beat. Everybody started singing. That was the moment, really.”

Palace supporters put on a lively atmosphere at Wembley, with tifos and balloons and continuing to chant loudly throughout the match. There were 35,500 official ticketed Eagles fans in attendance.

Day to remember: Crystal Palace supporters created a fantastic atmosphere at Wembley and will return for the final on May 17

Nick Potts/PA Wire

“I was actually doing some market research, because the Club Wembley [hospitality] bit in the middle was not in our allocation,” Parish explained. “So it’s 35,500, plus an enormous amount of that Club Wembley were Palace.

“They were extraordinary. They’ve been extraordinary since I’ve been here. There have been very few moments when they’ve doubted what we do. Clubs our size don’t work unless you’re all pointing in the same direction. All neutrals and Villa people have all spoken about the fans, so it’s not [biased].

“I came on the tube. Yeah [I was recognised], it’s nice. We create a carnival atmosphere, and what this team create is a winning mentality. We’re not just here for a day out. We were here to get to the final and, who knows, maybe even win the final.”

After the FA Cup final against City on May 17, Palace’s final two matches of the season are league games at home to Wolves and against champions Liverpool at Anfield.