Crystal Palace enter the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals believing a second straight major trophy is within reach, with Maxence Lacroix stressing that “everything is possible” as Oliver Glasner’s side prepare to face Shakhtar Donetsk after eliminating Fiorentina in the last round.

This tie gives Palace a first major European semi-final, making the Eagles the 21st club from England to appear at this stage in continental competition, with only Germany supplying more different semi-finalists, as 26 clubs from the Bundesliga nation have progressed this far.

Across this Conference League campaign, Crystal Palace lead all teams in several attacking categories, recording 198 shots, 65 efforts on target, 397 touches inside opposition penalty areas and an expected goals total of 27.8 xG, highlighting a consistent threat in possession and a direct approach in the final third.

Lacroix links this run to the squad’s growing maturity and quality in key areas. “I think it’s the experience [which has helped], but it’s also the team because we have really good players, said Lacroix. We showed [at Anfield] that we have the quality to be dangerous. This is what we want to show. We want to win another trophy. I think we just say: everything is possible. We showed it last year and I think people, when they come to support us, they see that we can do something this year. We want to give them this trophy, but you have to be respectful and start with Shakhtar.”

Crystal Palace arrive in this semi-final as current FA Cup holders, having beaten Manchester City at Wembley Stadium last season to claim the club’s first major trophy, and Lacroix now targets adding the Conference League title to that achievement while stressing that Shakhtar cannot be taken lightly at any stage.

Results away from Selhurst Park show some inconsistency in the Conference League, with Crystal Palace winning three, drawing one and losing two of six road fixtures so far, including a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina in the quarter-finals, although that setback did not prevent overall progress to this stage.

The Crystal Palace Conference League campaign started in Poland, where Glasner’s players defeated Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv 2-0, with Eddie Nketiah and Daniel Munoz scoring the goals, and Lacroix expects another demanding occasion in the same country against Shakhtar, stating: “We played already in Poland last time. It’s difficult [with the atmosphere]. But we will go there to win, added Lacroix. We are football players, and we want to win and reach the final. It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re going over there to win.”

With the Crystal Palace Conference League push now reaching the semi-final stage, the club stand one tie from a European final, carrying strong attacking numbers, mixed away form and recent Wembley success, while Lacroix’s message blends ambition with caution, stressing both belief in another trophy and the need to respect Shakhtar.