Glasner makes five changes for Crystal Palace final vs Rayo

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has made five changes ahead of the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, scheduled in ten days. He left Jean-Philippe Mateta, Chris Richards and Jefferson Lerma on the bench after a midweek loss to Manchester City. Two weeks earlier Palace suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, which Glasner likened to a friend's birthday party taking place shortly before a wedding. The "wedding" in his analogy referred to the upcoming semi-final second leg against Shakhtar Donetsk. Palace won that second leg 2-1 to confirm their place in the final. The victory secured the club's progression to the showpiece match. With the final now the priority, Glasner reshuffled the squad, benching Mateta, Richards and Lerma among others. The changes reflect a shift in focus from the recent domestic defeats. The five alterations to the starting eleven aim to provide fresh impetus for the upcoming European climax. Glasner expects the adjusted lineup to better suit the tactical demands of the final. The final against Rayo Vallecano will take place in ten days, and Palace will look to build on the semi-final success. The club hopes the new selections will help secure a trophy.