Oliver Glasner has expressed uncertainty over why some Crystal Palace fans booed during the goalless draw with AEK Larnaca in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie at Selhurst Park.
The Austrian manager suggested the boos may have been directed at the referee rather than his team, noting that the official awarded frequent fouls, which disrupted the flow of the game. He also acknowledged that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who returned to the squad after a failed move to AC Milan, received a mixed but largely warm reception from the crowd.
Palace created several chances but failed to score, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of next week's second leg in Cyprus. Glasner insisted he was not frustrated by the result, attributing it to missed opportunities and fine saves from Larnaca goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic.
“I’ve seen us giving 100 per cent effort, creating enough, being very dominant. Just the most important part we missed, and that was scoring a goal,” Glasner said. He also praised Larnaca's experience, noting their ability to read the game and anticipate play.
