Crystal Palace’s triumph is a great big two fingers to Uefa

RED BULL ARENA – “We are the boys who will win your little game”, a Selhurst Park tifo read at the start of Crystal Palace’s Uefa Conference League journey.

They did, indeed, live up to the billing, beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Wednesday’s final.

Despite feeling aggrieved after their demotion from the Europa League for failing to comply with multi-club ownership regulations, Palace embraced the competition from the start – after all, it was still a maiden European tour.

It did not work out too badly in the end; now they are European champions and have back-to-back seasons of continental football.

In retrospect, the exclusion has worked in their favour. Entering the Europa League in their first-ever European season may well have been a step too far – especially with the toll the Conference League has taken on the squad – but the third-tier competition has given them exquisite grounding and experience of European football, which will elevate their chances in the Europa League next season.

There was beautiful irony to Palace lifting a European honour at the home of RB Leipzig, a club genuinely engrossed in a multi-club model – unlike Palace. Despite winning the “little game”, there was no love lost for Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, whom supporters pelted with jeers during the trophy presentation.

Procuring a maiden continental honour has finally allowed the Eagles to take up their rightful place in the Europa League next season after Jean-Philippe Mateta struck into a gaping net.

It had to be Mateta, who lives every moment of a game, even after he was substituted in Leipzig – the Frenchman was bouncing up and down on the bench trying to coach his team over the line.

It was not long ago that Mateta was vilified by Palace fans when he tried to force a move to AC Milan in January. Palace can thank their lucky stars the move fell through, with Mateta, who may still depart in the summer, scoring the most crucial goal of their campaign.

Winning a European trophy is a remarkable achievement for Palace, and they should take time to bask in the glory. However, when attention turns to next season under new management – with Conference League success marking Oliver Glasner’s final game at the club – their triumph could prove a gamechanger.

The dividends stretch beyond another trophy in the cabinet. The £21.5m prize for winning the competition will help boost the transfer kitty for the new manager, especially with financial regulations becoming even more stringent from next season. Another European campaign will also increase revenue streams, both commercially and through prize money.

Most importantly, the pull of the Europa League should not be underestimated. Another season in Europe will allow Palace to attract a higher calibre of players and coaches, with Thursday night football once again on offer at Selhurst Park.

Andoni Iraola is Palace’s dream candidate to replace Glasner, and their efforts to persuade him to join have been admirable. With Bournemouth securing Europa League football, a move to Palace may initially have appeared a side-step.

But Palace now offer European football of their own, alongside the prestige of having won a European trophy and two domestic honours. The prospect becomes even more attractive given Iraola’s interest in London.

No matter where Palace go from here, the kudos belongs to chairman Steve Parish and outgoing manager Glasner.

Glasner for masterminding the greatest spell in Palace history, always finding a way to win big games. The unity he has developed in the Palace squad means they enter every game as a collective with an unconquerable mindset.

Meanwhile, Parish, who has had a tense relationship with Glasner at times, could have sacked the Austrian when he publicly disrespected the club in January. However, he held his nerve as he knew Glasner gave Palace the best chance of winning the Conference League. He may look back on that decision in years to come as the pivotal moment that led Palace to the title.

There was a touching moment between the pair during the celebrations when they both lifted the trophy together in front of the Palace supporters. One last trophy to signal the end of their union and further cement their legacies as the greatest chairman and manager, respectively, in Palace’s history.

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