Crystal Palace can seize unwanted opportunity in Conference League | OneFootball

Demotion from Europa League left sense of injustice but Palace can seize chance to make more history under Oliver Glasner

European football arrives at Selhurst Park for the first time tonight when Crystal Palace host Fredrikstad in the first leg of their Conference League play-off.

After a long summer spent worrying about which competition Palace would be in this season, the focus now is on a long European run and dreams of another major trophy.

“But it's still the first time Crystal Palace plays European football. It's still the first time European football is played at Selhurst, and it's still the first time our fans can watch European football at home and travel abroad to watch the team in a competitive game.

Marc Guehi will captain Palace on their first ever night in Europe

Action Images via Reuters

“This is the reward for winning the FA Cup and it's European football. We will enjoy it together with our fans, everybody in the club, because it's something maybe many didn't expect.”

Glasner downplayed talk of Palace being among the favourites to win the Conference League. But the competition offers the club an opportunity to make yet more history.

Premier League clubs have won the Conference League in two of the four years since its inception, and Palace have the quality to follow West Ham and Chelsea in lifting the trophy.

Their squad is thin, and they need reinforcements before the window ends, especially with Eberechi Eze on his way to Arsenal.

But in Glasner, a Europa League winner with Frankfurt, they have a manager who knows how to win in Europe.

Eberechi Eze is set to say his goodbyes at Selhurst Park before joining Arsenal

John Walton/PA Wire

Their ferocious counter-attacking style is also well suited to cup competition.

Glasner is not getting ahead of himself, though. Palace are still entering the unknown and will have to overcome the occasion as much as the opponent.

The Palace boss is adamant that Fredrikstad will pose a real threat.

“They deserve a lot of respect because they are the cup winners of Norway,” he said.

Glasner is expected to name a strong team in the hope of building a comfortable lead to take to Norway next week, with captain Marc Guehi confirmed to start amid transfer interest from Liverpool.

Eze was also expected to start, but with the 27-year-old closing in on a move to Arsenal and is remains to be seen if he will feature on his farewell night at Selhurst Park.