As if two games in 48 hours wasn’t enough, Crystal Palace now face an additional two-legged play-off tie to keep their European dreams alive.
Thursday’s frustrating 2-2 draw with Finnish champions KuPS saw Palace automatically miss out on the last 16 of Europe’s third tier of football.
advertise
The Eagles make their debut in Europe’s major tournament and after finishing 10th in the standings, they must play additional games on February 19 and February 26 to earn the right to advance to the knockout stages.
With a tight turnaround time, boss Oliver Glasner appointed an understrength squad filled with fringe players and academy players.
As soon as the referee blew the final whistle at Selhurst Park, Glasner’s attention immediately turned to Saturday’s Premier League clash with Leeds United.
Two first-team games in 48 hours are followed by a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Arsenal next Tuesday – and now Palace, who were relegated from the Europa League to the Division One due to ownership rules, will face two further European fixtures in the new year.
advertise
Crystal Palace competed in the Division One play-offs in August before the league stage and could end the season after playing 68 games in all competitions, including the Community Shield.
“With relegation we got the play-offs in August and with this result we got the play-offs in February,” Glasner said after Thursday’s game.
“The result was not what we wanted. It was a game we could have won easily.
“The only thing I don’t like is that Leeds now know our starting XI because there are only 11 players who haven’t started and no one is going to start two games.”
advertise
Palaces remain in Europe, but uncertainty remains
Despite losing an automatic spot in the last 16, the mood at Crystal Palace remains upbeat.
The Eagles begin their FA Cup defense at non-league Macclesfield on January 10 and former England defender Joleon Lescott believes Glasner will be able to use his fringe and youth players to help him juggle the demands of European and domestic competition.
“They beat Macclesfield away in the FA Cup and the play-offs and maybe they can go into those games and rest some experienced players,” Lescott told TNT Sport.
advertise
Against KuPS, Glasner started 16-year-old Joel Drakes Thomas, 17-year-old Dean Benamal and 18-year-old George King – an academy trio who didn’t look out of place on their debuts.
However, there is still an air of uncertainty hanging over Selhurst Park.
Glasner is entering the final six months of his contract and Crystal Palace’s hierarchy are increasingly concerned about losing a manager whose stock price has soared in recent months.
Negotiations over a new contract have been ongoing since March but there is little sign that the 51-year-old Austrian is close to committing to his future. The 51-year-old Austrian helped Eintracht Frankfurt win the Europa League in the 2021-22 season.
advertise
In fact, Glasner said before Thursday’s game: “I haven’t thought about my future for one second. It doesn’t matter right now.”
Additionally, doubts remain over the futures of Mark Gay and Adam Walton, both of whom are subject to interest from other clubs.
Who will Crystal Palace face in the play-offs?
Crystal Palace will reveal their knockout play-off opponents on January 16.
Italian team Fiorentina reached the finals in the 2022-23 season, finishing 15th and having to qualify through the play-offs to reach the last 16.
Other teams in the play-off draw include AZ Alkmaar, whom they beat 3-1 at Selhurst Park earlier in the season.
advertise
Polish side Lech Poznan, Turkish club Samsunspor and the team that faced them on Thursday, KPS, are also involved.
Will the Palace go all the way?
It’s not too early for Crystal Palace fans to start booking flights and hotel rooms for the final at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, especially after failing to automatically qualify for the knockout stages.
The final will be held on May 27, 15 days before the start of the 2026 North and Central American World Cup.
Crystal Palace still have nine games to negotiate if they want to become just the third English club to win Europe’s third tier of competition, which only kicks off in the 2021-22 season.
advertise
After West Ham United won the title in the 2022-23 season, Chelsea won the title in the 2024-25 season.
Roma under Mourinho won the inaugural final in 2021-22, while Olympiacos triumphed in 2023-24.
In addition to West Ham United and Chelsea going all the way, Leicester City (2021-22) and Aston Villa (2024-25) both entered the semi-finals.
“We’ve been Crystal Palace supporters for 60 years but they’ve never seen us win anything,” Glasner said recently when asked about his memories of last May’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, the south London club’s first major trophy.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about the money, it’s about these emotions and I see that now when we talk about it.
advertise
“The same goes for when you get married or when a child is born. These moments will always be there.”
With Palace still around in Europe, will Glasner provide fans with more memories that will last a lifetime?
