When Eberechi Eze arrived at Crystal Palace back in 2020, he pledged to entertain, and over the following five years he most certainly has done that and more.
No one can therefore begrudge Eze a move to Arsenal, but it was a crying shame that he wasn’t part of Crystal Palace’s first ever European game after he pulled out of their starting XI before they beat Norwegian side Fredrikstad 1-0 in their Conference League play-off first leg tie.
Oliver Glasner said at his pre-match press conference that Eze would start, but speculation developed throughout Thursday that something had changed – and this was confirmed when the Palace team sheet was conspicuous by Eze’s absence.
‘I expected that he would start today,’ Glasner said. ‘But he called me this morning and said he doesn’t feel well. Of course I have to accept it and everything else, ask the chairman.’
When pressed further on how he felt, he added: ‘We don’t like to change the starting XI on matchday, especially in this situation when it is the first time of European football for Crystal Palace.’
Speaking after the victory, the Austrian then said: ‘Ebs will not play for us anymore so it does not make sense to talk about him. It’s gone.’
It was a crying shame that Eberechi Eze was missing on Thursday, with star on the brink of a shock move to Arsenal
But spectre of the wantaway star hung over proceedings despite him not being on the pitch
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He later told his post-match press conference: ‘I have to apologise to all of you because I didn’t tell the truth yesterday.
‘I thought he would play… he called me and said he didn’t feel well. You have to ask him (why), maybe in a few days. No (I don’t think he will play for the club again).’
Whatever Palace’s European journey is this season – alongside the FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs – it will be a legacy of Eze’s transformative impact over five years in south London.
At Selhurst Park he has developed into a Premier League star and England international – and it was heartening to see the love displayed for him around the ground despite his absence from the pitch.
Nevertheless, in among all the noise surrounding his future and that of Palace skipper Marc Guehi, who is wanted by Liverpool, there was the potential to take attention away from this being Palace’s first ever game in European football.
But the home fans made sure that wasn’t the case by creating a raucous atmosphere, while the Conference League anthem was booed and followed by regular chants of ‘F*** UEFA, F*** Marinakis’ after Palace’s demotion from the Europa League to the benefit of Nottingham Forest.
The hosts started brightly although they were perhaps not used to having so much possession as they battled to break down Fredrikstad’s deep block.
Jean-Philippe Mateta struck the post and Ismailia Sarr forced Martin Borsheim into a good save yet at half-time for all their control, there was a sense that Palace were missing a creative player of Eze’s ilk.
Oliver Glasner told the media that Eze had called him claiming illness before the match
Marc Guehi is another star that Glasner may not be able to call upon for future European ties
Fans also made their thoughts on UEFA unavoidably clear after their relegation from the Europa League due to rules around multi-club ownership
Jean-Philippe Mateta was still the man for the big occasion in front of goal as he supplied the difference-maker
There were concerns a frustrating evening could be a glimpse into life after Eze, who was later spotted at Selhurst Park, but a bullish Glasner insisted his shock withdrawal didn’t affect the team as he urged for action in the market and bemoaned the lack of depth in Palace’s squad.
‘We have 10 days (to strengthen),’ he grumbled. ‘I can’t sign the players but we have to act and we need this. This is Crystal Palace’s future.
‘I just know if Marc leaves then we cannot register anyone for Fredrikstad (second leg), so from my side he has to stay.
‘You see we played Jefferson Lerma at the back today, we have no centre backs available at the moment and if Marc leaves, OK maybe I will try my boots because I was a centre back.’
It was Palace’s unsung hero Will Hughes that helped to break the deadlock when his effort was diverted home by the head of the increasingly talismanic Mateta, sparking jubilant celebrations.
Palace’s patience had paid off and it felt only a matter of time before they added a second, with Daniel Munoz going closest when he also hit the post.
Yet Fredrikstad held firm – and almost equalised with the last kick of the match – to ensure this tie is still alive heading into next week’s second leg in Norway.
