No Eze But Palace Welcome New Era On A Bittersweet Night

There were possibly mixed emotions for Crystal Palace fans who were astatine Selhurst Park connected Thursday night.

On nan 1 manus location will person been excitement astatine seeing their broadside play European shot for nan first clip successful almost 3 decades, arsenic good arsenic making history pinch their first-ever triumph successful Europe as they hit Fredrikstad 1-0 successful nan first limb of their Uefa Conference League play-off.

But connected nan different manus it seemed galore were resigned to nan departure of nan talismanic Eberechi Eze, pinch nan midfielder absent from nan squad arsenic a move to Arsenal appears imminent.

Supporters arrived wearing shirts pinch "Eze 10" connected nan back, while galore had manus drawn signs saying convey you to a subordinate who had brought them countless magical moments connected nan transportation since his presence from QPR 5 years ago.

After nan win, head Oliver Glasner confirmed Eze was connected nan verge of leaving nan club.

"Ebs will not play for america immoderate much truthful it does not make consciousness to talk astir him," he told Channel 5.

"It's gone. It looks for illustration wishing him each nan champion for nan caller nine and for america it is astir bringing much players successful but they will not beryllium allowed to play successful nan 2nd leg."

Football quickly moves connected and, aft fans showed their support for Eze earlier kick-off connected Thursday attraction soon turned to Palace's infinitesimal of history, arsenic nan players came retired onto nan transportation to nan sound of fireworks and a celebratory atmosphere.

Palace past played successful Europe 27 years ago, but that was nan Intertoto Cup, a title that was dubbed 'The Cup for nan Cupless' and mostly perceived arsenic worthless by British sides.

It was besides not a memorable acquisition for Palace arsenic they were beaten 4-0 complete 2 legs by Turkish broadside Samsunspor.

But their latest task holds nan committedness of emotion different.

History was made erstwhile Jean-Philippe Mateta headed successful Palace's first-ever European extremity to springiness them nan lead early successful nan 2nd half.

The Conference League whitethorn not beryllium nan Europa League - nan title Palace were primitively group to play successful - but it still provides nan imaginable of an breathtaking European escapade for nan club's fans, and nan imaginable for much important silverware.

They will return bosom from really chap sides from London person antecedently fared successful nan competition, pinch West Ham and Chelsea 2 of nan 4 Conference League winners truthful far.

Plus, successful Glasner they person a head who knows each astir occurrence successful Europe, having won nan Europa League pinch Eintracht Frankfurt successful 2022.

"It is important taking nan win, first triumph successful Europe," said nan Palace boss.

"We are connected track."

This is nan latest section successful what has been a memorable and eventful twelvemonth for Crystal Palace fans.

Before kick-off connected Thursday, nan nine proudly showed disconnected nan 2 trophies they person won successful 2025 - nan FA Cup and nan Community Shield.

That first triumph was nan important one, having ended nan Eagles' agelong hold for a first awesome trophy erstwhile they hit Manchester City successful May.

They returned to Wembley 3 months later to triumph nan Community Shield, overcoming reigning Premier League champions Liverpool to do so.

But successful nan 3 months betwixt those visits to England's nationalist stadium location was still plentifulness of play disconnected nan pitch.

The FA Cup triumph had provided Crystal Palace pinch qualification to nan Europa League but excitement for that was comparatively short lived arsenic they were demoted to nan Conference League after being punished by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

Palace appealed against nan determination to nan Court of Arbitration for Sport but nan demotion was upheld.

Anger astatine that determination has been clear since, pinch fans having held up anti-Uefa banners astatine Wembley during nan Community Shield, and immoderate arrived pinch likewise anti-Uefa messages connected shirts and banners connected Thursday.

There had been fears aft Crystal Palace's FA Cup triumph that they would struggle to support their talented squad together.

Eze's departure has felt inevitable for immoderate clip but, truthful far, they person done good to clasp nan mostly of nan squad that brought them trophy occurrence past season.

After Palace's triumph connected Thursday, president Steve Parish said nan nine had to now attraction connected life aft Eze, and said that signings would beryllium made.

"We person to move past it," he told Channel 5. "Eze has been awesome for america and we are pleased he will spell connected to fulfill his ambitions.

"We person to find different players to support nan squad and Oliver Glasner. We will bring successful players, it is astir uncovering nan correct players."

Eze is improbable to beryllium their only prima subordinate to leave, pinch defender Marc Guehi successful nan past twelvemonth of his woody and linked pinch a move to Liverpool.

Parish added: "If Marc wants to motion a statement past he tin stay!

"It is simply a difficult situation. If you are successful Europe nan financial rules are a batch tighter than successful nan Premier League.

"Players leaving connected a free is not ideal. We will person to look astatine it complete nan adjacent 11 days."

Arrivals will beryllium cardinal for Palace's aspirations this play - some location and overseas - and Glasner has expressed his vexation astatine nan deficiency of signings truthful far.

The Eagles person been linked pinch Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, while Leicester City playmaker Bilal el Khannouss is simply a transportation target and Club Brugge's Christos Tzolis has besides been touted.

With nan 2nd limb of their Conference League qualifier to travel connected 28 August followed by nan transportation model closing 4 days later, it promises to beryllium an absorbing - and perchance breathtaking - fewer days up for nan Eagles.