Crystal Palace

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We asked for your thoughts after Crystal Palace claimed their first European victory with a first-leg win over Fredrikstad in the Conference League play-offs.

Here are some of your comments:

Susanne: We played really well. The teamwork was terrific. There should have been at least one more goal, but they were lucky. Perhaps one more substitution would have been a good idea, but I'm still proud of them.

Colin: A frustrating game. We should have won by more. It's about time Glasner started to trust the substitutes on the bench. He doesn't even play Esse! What was the point in buying him? Glasner is a great manager but to bring Édouard on is a joke. I blame this on Parish for not bringing in the players for Glasner. He can't keep on playing the same starting XI.

Philippe: A win is a win. However, I feel gutted for Esse and I'm really disappointed that he didn't come on.

Will: I felt the game needed fresh legs that never came. Esse and Rak-Sakyi, who were sitting on the bench, should have been given an opportunity. The team is lacking depth, especially in defence, but a win is a win. Parish needs to get the chequebook out if the results are to continue.

Mike: We defended well when needed and we dominated the game. However, we just have no idea how to score in the final third. The squad is too thin for Thursday and Sunday games, and unless we get players our Premier League form will struggle.

Lee: We need players in now or Glasner will walk at the end of the transfer window. He is our biggest asset and he is key to everything. If he goes, Parish should go too for his lack of ambition.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Manchester United are close to appointing Crystal Palace club doctor Imitiaz Ahmad as outgoing Gary O'Driscoll's successor.

It emerged earlier this year that O'Driscoll would leave Old Trafford after joining the Premier League club in September 2023 in the position of head of sports medicine.

United have undertaken a full process in identifying candidates for their role as the club's medical figurehead and are in advanced talks with Dr Ahmad, whose official title at Selhurst Park is head of sports medicine and science, over replacing O'Driscoll.

It is expected that Dr Ahmad will be formally appointed in the coming weeks.

Dr Ahmad joined Palace from Championship club Queens Park Rangers, where he spent over seven years, in February 2024.

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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been speaking to Channel 5 following the Eagles' first European win: "Goal number one is winning the game. We could see it wasn't going to be so easy. It was the game we expected, they played very deep and defended the box very well. There wasn't a lot of space.

"We had four or five clear chances, hitting the post twice, so we weren't efficient enough with our chances and then it's not that easy. In the end, taking a win in the first European game is good.

"We are still at the start of the season. A second clean sheet in a row and a win, I think we are on track."

On his half-time message and second-leg thoughts: "We said OK, stay patient and keep going. In the end, Mateta's head was in the way and he deflected the ball [into the net].

"First of all, their ground will be astroturf which will be new to us. I expect a similar game, they will be straightforward, there will be long throw-ins and we will get our chances.

"For now, it's about turning our focus to Nottingham Forest. Everyone can see our squad is quite tight so these players will have to be ready again in three days. I know they will be ready."

On the impact of Eberechi Eze's absence: "When you play against such a deep block, you maybe need someone that can dribble past one or two players and score on his own. This is what Eberechi gives us.

"We have other profiles now. Ismaila [Sarr] is a runner, JP [Mateta] is in the box and [Justin] Devenny. We tried to find them from the wings with many crosses into the box.

"Ebs [Eze] will not play for us anymore, so it doesn't make sense to talk about him. It's gone. We are wishing him all the best for his new club but for us it's about bringing more players in, however they will not be allowed to play in the second-leg."

On finding a replacement for Eze: "We knew that more or less this would happen, so we have already been looking for the right replacements for weeks. We hope to get it done in 10 days time, with more pressure now.

"I will be involved, but it is my job to prepare the team for Nottingham Forest. We are unbeaten this season and this is how we want to continue."

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Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has been speaking to Channel 5 about Eberechi Eze's absence in last night's Europa Conference League play-off: "We have to move past it. He has been fantastic for us and we are pleased that he will go on to fulfil his ambitions.

"We have to find other players to support the team and Oliver Glasner now. We will bring players in, but it is about finding the right players.

"I don't think Oliver [Glasner] wants too many. I think it is about getting the right number and getting the balance right. We are a bit thin anyway, but we are working on what we are working on and we will look to get the quality we can.

"We are very lucky with Oliver [Glasner] because he is very involved. He is a very data-driven manager. He is very specific about what he wants."

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Crystal Palace striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta has been speaking to Channel 5 after scoring the Eagles' first European goal: "I'm very happy to be the first player to score for Palace in a European cup. I saw the ball in the box and I did my job. I was ready, if the ball came to me, to touch it and score. I got into the right body position and I hoped to score, so yes very happy.

"They played very defensively and it was hard for us as they didn't give us gaps. They defended really well. We scored in the second half, so now we need to go there and win again."

On breaking down the low block: "We just needed to stick to the plan that the gaffer [Oliver Glasner] gave us and we scored in the end. The win was the most important thing, now we have another important game and we have to focus. "

On playing on a plastic pitch in the second-leg: "I started on those pitches when I was young, so it's not an issue."

On finding out Eberechi Eze wouldn't be playing and whether it disrupted their plans: "No, we were focused and we were just listening to what the gaffer wanted."

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

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Palace had expected to enjoy a Europa League campaign having won the FA Cup in May, but they were demoted for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

That did not dampen spirits for their first Conference League fixture, though, and persistence brought about a hard-earned Palace win at Selhurst Park.

They continually pushed to find ways through the Norwegian side's defence, stretching them wide when possible in an attempt to open up gaps, and Mateta made the breakthrough soon after half-time.

All the same, Fredrikstad will be left with a glimmer of hope that they can overturn their deficit in the second leg.

With Eze absent, Palace were missing a creative edge.

They had 74.3% of possession and 25 attempts to score, but they hit the target with just five of those and only scored once despite their chances amounting to 2.31 expected goals.

While Fredrikstad were particularly solid in the early stages, they quickly tired and Palace did not make the most of that.

Fredrikstad are a side who are eighth in the Norwegian top flight. While they brought a fighting spirit to the match, Palace are far superior on paper, having recently beaten Liverpool to win the Community Shield.

Yet, without a clearer cutting edge in Norway next week, the Londoners risk letting this tie slip from their grasp.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

Eberechi Eze, who is set for a move to Arsenal, is not a part of the Crystal Palace squad this evening.

There are two other changes from the side who drew 0-0 with Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend, with Chris Richards and Tyrick Mitchell dropping to the bench.

Jefferson Lerma, Justin Devenny and Borna Sosa are brought into the starting XI.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Lerma, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa; Sarr, Devenny; Mateta.

Subs: Matthews, Benitez, Mitchell, Clyne, Esse, Edouard, Richards, Rak-Sakyi, Cardines.

Fredrikstad XI: Borsheim; S. Owusu, Fredriksen, Woledzi; Eid, Metcalfe, L. Owusu, Sorlokk, Molde; Ohlenschlaeger, Holten.

Subs: Ovretveit, Langbraten, Okpaleke, Rafn, Hummelvoll-Nunez, Bjartalid, Kvile, Begby, Shein, Skogvold, Solberg, Granaas.

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Things have been quiet at Selhurst Park so far, but expect it to heat up in the next period as manager Oliver Glasner sets his sights on a defender and a forward.

This all centres around the futures of captain and defensive lynchpin Marc Guehi and forward Eberechi Eze.

Liverpool are hopeful of luring Guehi, who has only one year left on his contract, to Anfield, while Eze now looks on his way to Arsenal after they hijacked his move to Tottenham.

These would leave big boots to fill.

Palace have been linked with Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, while Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss is a transfer target.

Club Brugge's Christos Tzolis has also been touted but the Belgian club have every chance of progressing in the Champions League and want to keep their best players.

There are busy days ahead for Palace before the window shuts.

Read Phil's analysis on every Premier League club here

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Dean Henderson says his Crystal Palace team-mates Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze will "stay committed throughout" amid reports linking the pair with a moves away from the club.

Tottenham are in talks to sign star attacker Eberechi Eze and Liverpool have held discussions over Marc Guehi, who is in the final year of his contract.

"Great lads," Henderson said of both players in a news conference before Thursday's Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad.

"They are still committed and professional - it showed in the Chelsea game. Both of them were phenomenal in that game.

"They will stay committed throughout and be there to help the team. They are part of us at the minute and we will keep enjoying it."

The Eagles are enjoying the most successful period in the club's modern history after winning last season's FA Cup and beating Premier League champions Liverpool in the Community Shield.

Despite demotion from the Europa League, they will play European football for the first time on Thursday and began their Premier League campaign with an impressive draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

When asked if Palace can recover if they lose both Eze and Guehu, Henderson added: "100%. We have lost players before and we survived through that. And we brought the best times to this football club.

"Even when we lost Michael [Olise], we followed it up with the best season in 119 years of the club. You have got to trust the manager and the process, and we will be very fine."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League play-off first leg against Norwegian side Fredrikstad at Selhurst Park (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Glasner confirmed Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi will start on Thursday despite being linked with moves away: "Many of you were surprised he [Eze] and Marc started against Chelsea, you may be surprised they start tomorrow, but they are committed to the team. They will play a crucial part for as long as they are here. If they leave, they want to leave as the guys who gave 100% to Crystal Palace."

• More on Eze: "The player gives 100% because he is under contract. We don't have to say thank you every day - he is getting a few pounds every week."

• On Guehi, who appeared to reject his manager approaching him on the pitch after full-time at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Glasner added: "There has been so much nonsense written. I have not met many colleagues more ambitious than me - Marc is one of them, and he was upset on Sunday. He was emotional after this game, exhausted. He was disappointed the goal was disallowed and that we did not win."

• Glasner will play his strongest team in the Conference League: "We will play with the best possible team every time. Maybe there will be one or two changes, but since Sunday our players are completely recovered, so no reason to make a lot of changes."

• On the club's demotion from the Europa League: "This is the last time I will respond to this question. We deserve to play Europa League [because] we are the FA Cup champions - but it was decided we would be demoted, so we will prepare. It is the first time European football will be played at Selhust. This is our reward for winning the FA Cup and we will enjoy it."

• When asked whether Palace are favourites to win the tournament, Glasner said: "It is important to stay humble. Goal one is to qualify for the group stage. It is our first time in this competition and, like every competition, we want to go and win it. If we can do it, I don't know."

• Glasner emphasised that opponents Fredrikstad "deserve a lot of respect", adding: "They are the cup winners of Norway, so they are the same as us. We analyse them and prepare. They are very compact, defending in a deep block and very physical."

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Crystal Palace want 19-year-old Southampton winger Tyler Dibling to replace Eberechi Eze, whose move to Tottenham is edging closer. (Talksport, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Alex Pewter
Fan writer

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For Crystal Palace, the key to this positive start to the season has been consistency. Consistency in tactics, coaching, and the selection of players. The starting XI on Sunday made up 77.6% of the minutes in the previous Premier League campaign, and Oliver Glasner's decision to opt for a training camp in Austria over a more unfocused pre-season tour has left the team well-drilled and in good order - a stark contrast to twelve months ago.

As far as the preparation for the game was concerned, at least to the outside world, the speculation around Eberechi Eze's inclusion in the squad could have acted as a distraction. As Glasner stated after the match, you can't always believe what you read on the internet, and the performance itself didn't reflect that uncertainty.

In the coming days, the team's focus shifts to the Europa Conference League and the first of two legs against Norway's Fredrikstad. Whilst perhaps you can't call the event momentous just yet, as reaching the league phase remains the critical milestone, it is an alien position for the club to be in.

Thankfully, despite the added workload the club is anticipating, Glasner has experience of the Thursday-Sunday grind of fixtures imposed on teams competing in Uefa's second and third competitions, and the squad will be well prepared for that in the short term.

However, while we can only speculate on transfer movements in the coming days and weeks, without certainty of which players will still be at the club once the window closes, there is still recruitment work to be done for the team to manage the burden of multiple competitions that Glasner will want to compete in.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

Crystal Palace want to retain Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi - who are targets for Tottenham and Liverpool respectively - until after the start of their Conference League campaign, which begins on Thursday against Fredrikstad. (Mirror, external)

However, Spurs have made a request to Palace over the payment structure of a deal for Eze, with a proposed offer of £55m plus add-ons. (Independent, external)

Meanwhile, Palace are lining up Rennes' 20-year-old French defender Jeremy Jacquet as a possible replacement for Guehi. (Independent, external)

The Eagles have approached Leicester City to explore the possibility of signing 21-year-old Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss. (Athletic - subscription required, external)

And Palace are also considering a season-long loan deal for 29-year-old Wolves and South Korea forward Hwang Hee-chan. (Sun, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Crystal Palace have held talks with former Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs regarding the vacancy left by Dougie Freedman earlier this year.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that Hobbs was a guest of Palace chairman Steve Parish at the club's Premier League visit to Chelsea on Sunday and is emerging as a contender for the club's vacant sporting director role.

BBC Sport first revealed Palace's initial interest in Hobbs on 30 July.

Freedman left the role as sporting director at the end of last season to take a multi-sport role with Saudi Arabia club Al-Diriyah.

There has been some doubt over whether Palace would look to directly replace Freedman, with recruitment consultant Iain Moody and assistant sporting director Ben Stevens taking on a wider remit since the Scot's departure.

But Hobbs is in line for a return to football at Selhurst Park following his departure from Molineux earlier this summer.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Oliver Glasner was adamant post-match on Sunday that Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi would still be at the club for Thursday, the club's first ever European game against Fredrikstad FK. It is such a massive occasion and both of them played such a key part in what will be a momentous match at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.

Whether they will play or not simply hinges on whether the deals - with Tottenham for Eze and Liverpool for Guehi - are made.

I know Glasner is banking on both of those being available but that is wholly dependent on negotiations between all of the clubs involved.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Richard: Underwhelming would be a kind description. Blunt in attack and vulnerable in defence. The full attack was available but could barely muster an attempt on target. Do the players work on accurate shooting in training sessions? So little creativity on display. A really disappointing start and two home points are gone already. Much more is expected, starting Friday. Fortunate in the VAR intervention that ruled out the Palace 'winner'.

Nick: After the great summer, seems like we've put the handbrake back on. Really disappointing performance. We've got great attackers - we need to set them free and then the goals will come.

James: So much for our refurbished attack - they've got to start firing. Gittens was useless on that wing, Joao Pedro seemed non-existent. Delap had a good physical presence but couldn't get a shot at goal, Estevao was looking quite positive. Looking forward to when we start firing - we will be unstoppable.

Crystal Palace fans

Robert: A great gutsy performance by the whole team amid speculation of possibly losing Guehi and Eze. I really hope they will stay in this great squad. As for the disallowed goal, it was six of one and half a dozen of the other by both players which led to Eze's disallowed goal. I think the goal should have stood. Why on earth can't the transfer window close BEFORE the season starts? It's ridiculous how it is now.

Gary: I thought it was an excellent performance against Chelsea's millions. We only spent £2m so far. We've proved once again we can compete against the 'bigger' clubs. Eze was unlucky to have his goal ruled out as otherwise it was a win. An excellent performance, especially defensively.

Corin: Promising start to the season. Well organised in defence and dangerous in attack. Wharton is such an effortlessly classy player! Two years in a row we've had a goal disallowed in the first game. Should have been a penalty when Sanchez punched Guehi just before half-time. Glasner deserves praise for what he has achieved. If Eze and or Guehi go, they go with massive thanks and will always be legends at Palace. Without them, Palace will still be a test for anyone.

Pundits Danny Murphy and Joe Hart join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace

• Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brentford

• Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal

Manchester United are weighing up whether to make a bid for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. (Talksport), external

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