UEFA delays extend Crystal Palace's summer of uncertainty into pre-season

New York Times

01-07-2025

Crystal Palace's players will this week report back for pre-season training still unclear on which European competition they will be competing in next season.
UEFA's decision to postpone a ruling on whether or not to admit Palace into the Europa League until Lyon's appeal against their relegation to Ligue 2 has been heard will be a source of frustration at Palace and has the potential to cause problems planning for next season. The date for that appeal to be heard is still to be determined.
There is something of a stasis at Palace right now as a result of this uncertainty. It is not a crisis and there is no sense of panic, but there is an absence of certainty surrounding the new campaign.
A replacement for sporting director Dougie Freedman, who left in March, has yet to be appointed, although the team with whom he worked remains largely in place and much of the work to prepare for this summer will have been done in advance.
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Freedman's assistant, Ben Stevens, is leading the work alongside Iain Moody, who has worked as a consultant at the club for several years and worked closely alongside Freedman, albeit more in the negotiation process for new and existing players rather than identifying new talent.
Manager Oliver Glasner has repeatedly stated how the club's late transfer business and disrupted pre-season in respect of players returning from international tournaments are problematic for his preparation. It was, he believed, a significant part of Palace's slow start to last season, where they failed to win for eight Premier League games.
Chairman Steve Parish told reporters after the FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa that the club was looking to avoid a repeat of that disruption last summer and said after the cup final win over Manchester City that they must match Glasner's ambition.
'We're trying to do what we can this season to have a better pre-season and not make some of the mistakes we made again (where four players arrived on transfer deadline day),' he said.
Palace's best-laid plans may now be frustrated by the continued wait for a decision on whether they will compete in the Europa League or drop down into the Conference League due to the possible conflict of the multi-club project Eagle Football, via its principal owner John Textor, owning significant stakes in both Palace and Lyon.
Financially, there will be a difference between the two competitions, which may come into play, too.
The profile of players Palace are targeting has not changed drastically from what it always has been: younger talent with something to prove and significant potential who can contribute now but then be sold on for a profit. Those players are more likely to be attracted to playing in the Premier League than in which European competition Palace are competing.
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They have already signed the goalkeeper Walter Benitez to provide cover for Dean Henderson and compete for the No 1 spot. That deal is one Palace had earmarked for some time, though, with the Argentinian out of contract at PSV this summer.
So it is more likely to impact potential departures than incoming transfers. Marc Guehi's situation is most unclear, with the club captain out of contract next summer and so far having expressed no inclination to renew. There is interest in him and offers are expected to arrive this summer.
Should Palace play in the Europa League — the more prestigious competition — then they may hope to persuade him to sign a new deal with the club and enjoy a season showcasing his ability on the highest stage yet and then leave with their blessing next summer.
That would be a similar situation to the one which played out with Michael Olise, who signed a new deal with a release clause and left a year later for Bayern Munich in a deal which earned Palace £50million ($68.6m).
Likewise, Jean-Philippe Mateta harbours hope of playing for France; it's something he believes is far more likely by playing in a European competition. Following a superb 18 months in which he has scored 27 league goals since Glasner's arrival last February, he too may have offers this summer from teams playing in the Europa League.
Perhaps less affected by where Palace will play next season is Eberechi Eze, who still has two years left on his contract. He is also expected to attract offers this summer, but his future is not linked as much to playing in the Europa League compared to the Conference League.
Clearly, though, none of this is helpful for Palace, and it may have a knock-on impact on the immediate future of some of their younger players on the fringes of the first team.
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The players will remain focused on returning to the fitness levels required for the intensity Glasner demands as they begin their preparation for the new campaign, but any distractions, however minor, are unwelcome.
For the fans, the euphoria of their FA Cup victory remains but it risks being slightly overshadowed by a lack of clarity and the agonising wait. This summer should have been one for them to bask in the glory of their most successful Premier League season and winning their first major trophy.
Palace may not be completely hamstrung as the wait goes on, but it is an unwelcome side note in a summer that should have been one of excitement about their European adventure. That much is unfortunate at least.