‘Not a given’: Simon Jordan issues Crystal Palace Conference League reality check

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has urged caution over Eagles’ hopes of blasting through the Europa Conference League this season ahead of the meeting with Dynamo Kyiv tonight.

Oliver Glasner’s side had earned the right to play in the Europa League this season thanks to their FA Cup triumph last term but were relegated to the Conference League having not met ownership rules. Nottingham Forest took their place in the Europa League in a painful ruling.

There have been suggestions that the demotion to the Conference League could play out in the club’s favour. The tournament has been won by a Premier League side in two of its four years, West Ham triumphing in 2023 and Chelsea this year.

Simon Jordan sends Crystal Palace precautionary Conference League message

If Crystal Palace get their hands on the trophy, they will earn a place in the Europa League again and book back-to-back seasons in Europe. However, Jordan issued a precautionary message when speaking on talkSPORT today.

He said: “The fact of the matter is that Palace have got a better opportunity of having two seasons in Europe, because if they were to win the Europa Conference League, which is not easy but not beyond them, they just beat the Premier League champions, they can win this competition. Where will they be then? The Europa League and two seasons in Europe.

“ [Are they favourites to win it?] Not really. They’ve got a very good chance and should do very well, but to suggest it’s a given they are going to win it is unfair. It’s a repackaging of the opportunity. In the play-off games, it wasn’t a straightforward situation, they played against a lowly side and struggled to get through. European football, irrespective of what you think, has differences to it.

“I think they’ll do well. Will it keep Glasner in a job? Maybe, I doubt it. Will it convince Guehi to sign another contract? Probably not. Will Palace fans enjoy the opportunity of seeing Palace play in a European competition knowing they were cheated out of the real one they should have been in...”

Oliver Glasner speaks on past European success

Crystal Palace do have a manager who has tasted European success in Glasner. The Eagles boss lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of taking on Dynamo Kyiv, Glasner reflected on how that experience can help Crystal Palace this season. He said: "My past experience is not important. Of course, I always want to help and support the team as good as I can. I always try to give my experience and that is not just in football, but in my life. Nothing I did with Frankfurt will help us [against Dynamo Kyiv]. It is a new opposition, new stadium and new environment. But what can help us is how we approach the game."

After facing Kyiv, Crystal Palace take on AEK Larnaca later this month and AZ Alkmaar in November. There are then trips to Strasbourg and Shelbourne before the end of the year, alongside the visit of KuPS.

In other news, Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace change positions in new-look Premier League table without VAR.