Steve Parish on Crystal Palace's journey to European glory: Sometimes the good guys win

Crystal Palace co-owner Steve Parish said "sometimes the good guys win" after the Eagles soared to their first ever European trophy by landing the Conference League.

Parish led a consortium of Palace fans who rescued the club from administration in 2010 and has established a club that is now thriving in the Premier League having won the FA Cup and the Conference League in the past 12 months.

The victory over Rayo Vallecano means Palace will be back in Europe next season in the Europa League - a competition they originally qualified for courtesy of their FA Cup win but were replaced by Nottingham Forest after a legal saga involving former investor John Textor, UEFA and Lyon regarding multi-club ownership rules.

"When I bought the club I wasn't sure we'd ever play in Europe, let alone win a trophy. It's a dream come true. We have got a taste for it now, we want to keep it going. We have gone up a level and we have got to try and stay there. We will have a week to celebrate and then work hard in the summer."

It was the perfect ending for Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who has overseen the most successful spell in Palace's history, leaving the Eagles with their first European trophy after winning the FA Cup and Community Shield all within the last 12 months.

"I can't even believe that this was the last game," he said.

"But yes, I took this decision, and I think it's a chapter, it's, I think it's a good chapter to read in the Crystal Palace book, but other chapters will follow.

"It's the same, I said to the players, get now what you deserve after winning the FA Cup, that's the Europa League.

"So I think now it's with a one-year delay, the club, the fans, the players did get what they deserved after winning the Europa League.

"So sometimes, okay, you have to take a round trip, and now we are there. Crystal Palace is where they should be.

"I have to forward the congratulations to the players, to the team, because it was the game that we expected, but I think we played incredible 15 minutes after half-time, where we scored the goal, where we could have decided it.

"Then at the end we defended so well, fantastic evening, and I think it's really this group of players, this club, these fans deserve to win the Conference League, and that's why I'm really, really pleased tonight."

It was Jean-Philippe Mateta that proved the matchwinner for Palace, going from zero to hero after he nearly left the Eagles in January.

He only remained a Palace player after a knee issue denied him medical clearance for a desired move to AC Milan which left some sections of the Palace support unhappy with the France forward.

He vowed to give 100 per cent to Glasner and his team-mates, and emphatically completed his redemption arc when he pounced on the rebound of a parried Adam Wharton effort to put Palace in the ascendancy, treating the euphoric Eagles fans to his signature corner-flag kick.

He said: "I feel fantastic. We did it. Our first time in Europe, I just want to celebrate.

"It's incredible. I am tired right now, we gave everything, that's why we won today."

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