Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson said it is difficult to sum up the team’s journey as they prepare for their Conference League semi-final clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. Palace are now three games away from a third trophy in two seasons under Oliver Glasner.
Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson has said it is difficult to sum up his team’s journey as they prepare for their Conference League semi-final with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Palace have made the trip to Krakow, where Shakhtar have been forced to play their matches in the Conference League this season due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, for what is set to be a tense and nervy affair.
Of course, Palace have come on leaps and bounds under Oliver Glasner, winning both the FA Cup and Community Shield under the Austrian, guiding the team into Europe and now fighting for a third trophy.
But, in reaching this far, they have already had to get past Conference League stalwarts Fiorentina, as well as doing it the hard way in the play-off after failing to finish in the top eight.
Captain Henderson believes his side has exceeded expectations this season, by reaching the last four and by being as solid as they have been in the Premier League.
He said: “It's difficult to put into words, really, because obviously we've exceeded expectations.
“I think ultimately, when we come to the business end of the season with this group of players, I think we show up.
“We don't take a backward step, we take a forward step, and I think that's the most important thing.
“Ultimately, we've got absolutely nothing to lose, so that's the message we keep giving each other: enjoy it and don't freeze – just embrace everything.”
Palace are just three games away from a third trophy under Oliver Glasner and the perfect way to bring an end to the Austrian’s tenure, with the manager already announcing he will depart the club this summer.
But, Henderson is adamant that they cannot think in those romantic terms or get too far ahead of themselves, with the magnitude of the match against Shakhtar coming to his attention.
“It’s not something I think about, lifting the cup, it’s more thinking about the process of how we lift the cup,” he added.
“And I think ultimately it's a cliché, but we've got the semi-final to come and we know Shakhtar are going to be a very tough team to play against.
"How do we get ourselves through that [away] game? And then, obviously, we bring it back to Selhurst.”
Palace face Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of the Conference League semi-final on Thursday night in Krakow - which can be watched live on TNT Sports.