Oliver Glasner wants his players to play in a relaxed and natural state, rather than with tension and stress.

The UEFA Cup final in Leipzig, Germany, will mark the end of Crystal Palace's historic season as they face Rayo Vallecano. This is the club's first appearance in European competition and their first time reaching a European final. This match will also be Oliver Glasner's last in charge of Crystal Palace, during which time the team has won the FA Cup and Community Shield, and is poised to add another European trophy.  

At the press conference, Oliver Glasner said: "Of course, we were originally looking forward to the Europa League, because winning the FA Cup should have given us that place, but we accepted the reality of the Europa League from day one. For a team used to playing in the Champions League, this is not the most attractive competition. But for a club that is stepping onto the European stage for the first time in its history, it is already very good."  

“We’ve been immersed in it from day one, and the fans have enjoyed the entire European journey. From Fredrikstad to Fiorentina, from Lublin in Poland to Shelburne in Ireland, we’ve traveled almost all over Europe. Now we stand in Leipzig, the heart of European competition, ready for the final. This is a very important tournament for us, and we’ve been learning and gaining experience along the way, and these matches have brought us to where we are today.”  

"Leading two different teams to the European finals twice in four years, and also participating in the German Cup and FA Cup finals during that time, is a very unique experience for any coach. It means a lot to me, and I cherish the opportunity to achieve these goals with these players."  

“For me, every final is a memorable moment, and I don’t compare their importance. Reaching the final means you’ve done a lot of things right throughout the season. It means a lot to me, but not just to me personally, but also to the players and the whole team, who have put in tremendous effort throughout the season.”  

"This is our 60th game of the season. If we can win the game in the end, it will be a perfect ending. Of course, football is full of variables, but we will do our best to win."  

Speaking about the final preparations before the match, Oliver Glasner said: "The final day will be longer than the FA Cup final because the match kicks off at 9 p.m. Overall, we are relaxed, but tactically, we have done a lot of preparation and analysis over the past week, including studying different formations against Rayo Vallecano."  

"We'll have dinner together. The players are all adults and can arrange their own time in the evening, though I hope no one goes to bars. Afterwards, we'll have activation training, and 'head tennis' is one of my favorite parts. The players are like kids at that moment, full of joy, competition, and laughter, and I enjoy watching them from the sidelines."  

"I hope the players can remain relaxed and natural tomorrow, rather than feeling tense and stressed. Afterwards, we will hold a meeting to announce the starting lineup and give a brief summary, followed by the process of eating and resting, repeating this cycle until the game begins."  

Image source: Internet/Crystal Palace official website