Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez has said that the club are preparing for another final as they take on Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-final first leg. The goalkeeper also praised fans for their continued support this season.
It is game day, Crystal Palace are finally back in action after a long three-week break and they don’t come much bigger than this.
A European quarter-final against Italian opposition is the first task for Oliver Glasner and his men as they prepare to host Fiorentina at Selhurst Park.
It has been far from an easy ride to get to this point for Palace, having to go through the play-offs before going to extra time against AEK Larnaca in the round -of-16 clash.
But the Eagles are now into the business end of the competition and there is real hope that they can go all the way and win a third major trophy in two seasons.
Goalkeeper Walter Benitez, who stepped up in the absence of Dean Henderson who missed the second leg against Larnaca with a fever, has said that Palace are treating every European game like a final as they strive to add European glory to their FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs.
“It's a big game [against Fiorentina], when you qualify, you know you want to play big games,” Benitez said.
“It’s the first year of competition for Crystal Palace in Europe, every game for us is like a final, because we want to finish in this competition as high as possible.
“We know it's really important for the club, and for us also, so we try to give our best in every game.
“We’re trying to enjoy it also because it's important, and I hope we finish as high as possible in this competition.”
There has been a lot of travelling around for Palace in this competition, which, in their first-ever European campaign, has taken its toll on players and fans alike.
Benitez insists he feels the connection between fans and players and thanked the supporters for following the team across Europe.
He said: “This is our goal, because we want to always stay together,”
“We are one team, so every player and every staff member helps us.
“Thank you to them for coming here and enjoying with us, now, we try to always stay together and work hard, because this is what we want.
“I feel this connection. I know I need to go game after game and give my best, because this is my goal.
“I always enjoy when I go and play on the pitch, because I feel the support is behind me and helps me.
“I try to give my best and I see this connection. I am really happy and I hope we continue like this for a long time.”