Latest news with #CheickDoucoure
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Lyon ‘must find £172MILLION to stop relegation from Ligue 1' as Crystal Palace nervously wait for Europa League decision
LYON have been slapped with a £172million cash demand to avoid relegation to Ligue 2 - as Crystal Palace's Europa League hopes hang in the balance. French financial watchdogs have warned the seven-time Ligue 1 champions that they must balance their books fast or face being forcibly demoted to Ligue 2. Advertisement 5 John Textor owns Lyon but has shares in Crystal Palace too 5 Steve Parish has been working round the clock to ensure his Crystal Palace play in Europe Credit: PA 5 Crystal Palace defied the odds to win the FA Cup last season Credit: GETTY Lyon, who qualified for the Europa League on the pitch last season, are on the brink of an administrative meltdown. According to L'Equipe, a probe by the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG) found a giant hole in their finances. If they fail to plug the £172million black hole, Lyon's relegation from Ligue 1 will not be overturned, piling on the misery for fans of the former giants. And the chaos in France could have a ripple effect across the Channel, with Crystal Palace sweating on a potential Europa League reprieve. Advertisement The Eagles' Europa League spot for winning the FA Cup is under threat due to UEFA's multi-club ownership rules. John Textor, who owns Lyon through his Eagle Football Group, is selling his 43 per cent share in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. If the French club are successful with their appeal, Palace are likely to be demoted to the Conference League, although they could challenge the decision at CAS. However, the Eagles will most likely keep their Europa League spot if Lyon are unable to raise the £172million and lose their appeal. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Palace bosses have been in talks with UEFA's Club Financial Control Body to try and find a solution to the situation. But a verdict from the governing body has been put on ice pending the outcome of Lyon's relegation appeal. Eberechi Eze to Tottenham LATEST | Transfers Exposed In some positive news for Palace, SunSport can exclusively reveal that Eagles midfielder Cheick Doucoure is close to returning to full fitness. Advertisement The midfielder missed a chunk of last season due to a knee operation but he is back on the grass ahead of pre-season next week. Moroccan defender Chadi Riad, who ruptured his cruciate ligament, is also back running, although it is unclear if he will be ready to go straight into the team for the start of next season. The potential return of the duo could serve as a major boost to manager Oliver Glasner, who is looking to build on last season's success. The Eagles finished 12th in the league last season but won the FA Cup — their first ever major trophy. Advertisement 5 Cheick Doucoure missed a large part of last season due to injury Credit: Reuters
The Irish Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Lyon ‘must find £172MILLION to stop relegation from Ligue 1' as Crystal Palace nervously wait for Europa League decision
LYON have been slapped with a £172million cash demand to avoid relegation to Ligue 2 - as Crystal Palace's Europa League hopes hang in the balance. French financial watchdogs have warned the seven-time Ligue 1 champions that they must balance their books fast or face being forcibly demoted to Ligue 2. 5 John Textor owns Lyon but has shares in Crystal Palace too 5 Steve Parish has been working round the clock to ensure his Crystal Palace play in Europe Credit: PA 5 Crystal Palace defied the odds to win the FA Cup last season Credit: GETTY If they fail to plug the £172million black hole, Lyon's relegation from Ligue 1 will not be overturned, piling on the misery for fans of the former giants. And the chaos in France could have a ripple effect across the Channel, with Crystal Palace sweating on a potential Europa League reprieve. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS The Eagles' Europa League spot for winning the FA Cup is under threat due to UEFA's multi-club ownership rules. New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. If the French club are successful with their appeal, Palace are likely to be However, the Eagles will most likely keep their Europa League spot if Lyon are unable to raise the £172million and lose their appeal. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Palace bosses have been in talks with UEFA's Club Financial Control Body to try and find a solution to the situation. But a verdict from the governing body has been put on ice pending the outcome of Lyon's relegation appeal. Eberechi Eze to Tottenham LATEST | Transfers Exposed In some positive news for Palace, SunSport can exclusively reveal that Eagles midfielder Cheick Doucoure is close to returning to full fitness. The midfielder missed a chunk of last season due to a knee operation but he is back on the grass ahead of pre-season next week. Moroccan defender Chadi Riad, who ruptured his cruciate ligament, is also back running, although it is unclear if he will be ready to go straight into the team for the start of next season. The potential return of the duo could serve as a major boost to manager Oliver Glasner, who is looking to build on last season's success. The Eagles finished 12th in the league last season but won the FA Cup — their first ever major trophy. 5 Cheick Doucoure missed a large part of last season due to injury Credit: Reuters 5 Chadi Riad has played only one game since signing for Palace from Betis last summer Credit: Getty
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Premier League prediction, betting preview, odds and tips
Forest's Champions League hopes hang in the balance after this weekend and need to win their remaining matches if they are to be in control of the situation as the Premier League season draws to a close Nottingham Forest's hopes for Champions League football are starting to fade after missing out on points against Brentford. To stay in the race for a top-five finish, they need a significant turnaround in form. Crystal Palace, under Oliver Glasner, had a strong spell mid-season, winning eight out of twelve league matches from late December to early April. Despite this effort, they seem poised to finish just outside the Premier League's top half once more in the 2024-25 season. The Eagles are safe from relegation but find themselves 13 points adrift of sixth place—the last confirmed spot for European qualification. Their season has been largely uneventful. On the injury front, Palace will be without long-term absentees Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad, but otherwise, they have a full squad ready for action. Similarly, Nuno Espirito Santo's team is expected to field a complete lineup for the upcoming game. In contrast, Forest is embroiled in one of the most thrilling races for Champions League spots seen in recent times. With only four points separating Manchester City in third place and Aston Villa in seventh, and five games remaining, the competition is fierce. Forest has been especially dominant against lower-half teams this season, securing 43 out of a possible 48 points in those encounters. Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Odds Crystal Palace - 13/10 (CopyBet) Draw - 23/10 (CopyBet) Nottingham Forest - 2/1 (CopyBet) 18+ | Gamble responsibly | | Odds subject to change Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Betting Tips Both teams to score - 3/4 (CopyBet) Mateta to score anytime - 7/5 (CopyBet) 18+ | Gamble responsibly | | Odds subject to change Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Betting Offer Bookies CopyBet are offering new customers £60 free bets when they place a £20 qualifying bet. Simply register and bet £20 on a single bet on the match on minimum 1.9 odds and CopyBet will give you three free bets worth £20 each to place on football, horse racing and other popular sports too. Full T&Cs apply. New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £20, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of opt-in. 3 Free bets include: 1 x £20 Free bet Racing (Horse Racing or Greyhound Racing); 1 x £20 Free Bet Live Football; 1 x £20 Free Bet Live. Max payout – £500. 7-day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app (Open banking). 18+. Gamble responsibly Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too. We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit
New York Times
30-01-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Crystal Palace, ambition and the quandary over risk versus reward
It has been a gruelling week for Crystal Palace. Another poor home result, this time a 2-1 defeat against Brentford, was followed by confirmation that Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure will miss the remainder of the season with serious knee injuries. Add to that the recent recall by Chelsea of centre-back Trevoh Chalobah and a solitary addition to the squad, in the form of Romain Esse, and it is easy to see why there is some disgruntlement among the fanbase. Advertisement When you consider the success enjoyed under Oliver Glasner at the end of last season and the hope and expectation it whipped up, the frustration is even more understandable. Palace need something to excite them; something to fuel the belief that even better times lie ahead. The Premier League is unforgiving. The relative absence of jeopardy, with Palace improbable candidates for relegation but just as unlikely to qualify for Europe, accentuates the displeasure. The smaller — but no less important — causes for complaint are more in focus than they otherwise would be. Playing music for the away supporters in the Arthur Wait stand, the broadcast gantry blocking the view from the back of the block, the toilets being in a poor state, the issues surrounding digital ticketing, the decision to implement light shows and bursting flames before kick-off, the number of away fans finding their way into the home ends. The gripes, all of which matter however insignificant they may seem, affect the matchday experience. When a shoddy performance yields a poor result in appalling weather conditions, the misery is compounded. Palace were promoted in 2013. This has been their longest single stint in English football's top division. And yet, at times like these, the temptation is to wonder whether they have moved on at all from the Championship days. What can Palace point to as a tangible legacy of those 11 seasons in the Premier League? Well, quite a lot, really. They boast a sparkling new £30million ($37.2m) academy, which will soon boast a hydrotherapy centre to be used by the youth team as well as the men's and women's first teams. They have an improved training ground which they own. Hopefully, in the next two and a half years, there will be a redeveloped stadium generating more revenue to savour, too. Slow progress on the redevelopment of Selhurst Park has led some to believe that it will never be completed, but preliminary work began at the start of the season and a capital call in November provided funding towards a build project expected to cost at least £160m. Advertisement Slow progress is still progress. 'If you live season to season, that's fine,' chairman Steve Parish said as a guest on the Peter McCormack Show podcast earlier this month. 'But if you've got a club that doesn't have the right infrastructure, at some point that will be a transient moment. We try to outperform. We've been to a cup final (in 2016), we want to get to Europe, but we don't want to put at risk the long-term project to make the club a permanent fixture in the Premier League, hopefully challenging for Europe with facilities that everyone in the area can be proud of. 'It's all linked to revenue; how competitive you are. A more diversified revenue base is a sensible thing to do if you want to protect a community asset, business or a football club, which is all those things in one. The more revenue you can generate, the more master of your own destiny you are. Maybe you don't have your loan player (Chalobah) taken back in January as we just have. We want to be more in control of our performance and be able to hold onto players. 'This club's been in administration twice (in 1999 and 2010) — that's an overriding concern, always. We need to make sure the club will be OK.' Those are valid points from Parish, and the upgrade in the infrastructure is both important and welcomed. But the academy has yet to produce the envisaged raft of talent — a significant caveat is that it is expected to take a full cycle from the first under-8s intake before the true benefits can be judged — the stadium is not yet redeveloped and an improved training ground is not something of which supporters can directly enjoy the benefits. Palace have the lowest budget of the 'established' Premier League teams, so the failure so far of Eddie Nketiah, the flagship arrival in the summer window for an initial £25m from Arsenal, and Daichi Kamada, one of the highest-paid players, is real cause for concern. Compounding that is the decision to go into the season with only 20 senior outfield players. When injuries have struck, as they have, the squad is worryingly thin. The exclusion of Rob Holding, who fell out with the manager over a post-match running drill for fear of suffering injury, has left options slimmer still. The home form has been poor this season, with only two victories, and a good atmosphere is inextricably linked to performances on the pitch. Even taking into account the progress that has been made, there is just a groundswell of frustration that, whenever it feels as though Palace have a chance to press on, they are unable to do so — either through financial restrictions (self-imposed or otherwise) or errors of judgement. Advertisement Now concern swirls around what that might mean for the manager. Glasner has demonstrated his ability as a coach, improving players individually and finding ways to overcome issues while steadily improving his side's goalscoring capabilities. It is to Palace's credit that they pushed to secure him when others did not, but they have struggled over 11 seasons to maximise the potential of a good manager with a strong squad. The Austrian clashed with the hierarchy at his previous club Eintracht Frankfurt over transfer business and Palace must ensure the right balance is struck between providing him with the best available squad and not overextending themselves. But the most important would appear to be when new players arrive. Reinforcements were only signed late in the summer despite Glasner's repeated requests to bring them in early. That, alongside international players returning late, made it harder to implement his style and system effectively through the autumn. It is harder still to bring in players mid-season, but this month has seen a repeat. Esse is the sort of signing to excite the fans, but he was secured halfway through the window. Attempts to secure a left wing-back have, to date, come to nothing. There is also concern over the ownership situation, with John Textor's Eagle Football either looking to sell their 45 per cent stake or raise sufficient capital to persuade fellow General Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to sell to him so he can take a controlling stake in the club. The stalemate at the highest level is holding Palace back. Yet the grumbling extends from two things: familiarity and ambition. Outside the traditional 'Big Six', only Everton and West Ham United have spent longer in the Premier League than Palace. But clubs of a similar size — Brighton & Hove Albion, Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley — have all enjoyed European campaigns since Palace's promotion to the top flight in 2013. Leicester also boast a Premier League title and an FA Cup success. Advertisement That quartet have all spent time in the Championship — Wolves were actually in League One as Palace found their feet in the elite — and have 14 combined seasons in the second and third divisions between them over the period the Londoners have spent between 10th and 15th in the top division. Some would swap positions in a heartbeat, accepting the volatility if there was glory thrown in along the way. Others would prefer consistent stability. Palace have traditionally felt like a club fighting against the odds, spurred on by a backs-to-the-wall mentality. But their consistency as mid-table finishers, as impressive as it is for a club of their stature, means that is no longer truly the case. Fans rightly want more. Parish, too, has said he wants more. 'I'm less worried about relegation now than outperforming," he told McCormack, the co-owner of non-League Real Bedford FC. "I'm disappointed we don't outperform more.' There is reason to be proud of the stability he has helped implement, stemming from sensible management of finances allied with some good fortune. But with that comes exasperation that Palace cannot kick on, with the mood darkened by those complaints over everything the experience has become at Selhurst Park this season and a sense of the club being further away from what it once was. The hierarchy may argue that they are building the foundations for stable, long-term success that does not put the club's future in doubt. Sometimes progress is slow. Patience is required. Balancing long-term sustainability with short-term progress will always be challenging. But the fans are entitled to feel frustrated at a failure to push on when apparently well-placed to do so — whatever the underlying reasons. (Top photos: Getty Images)
