Johannes Nuñez, who has recently joined Fredrikstad, has expressed his belief that he and his teammates are determined to secure a result when they face Crystal Palace in the Europa Conference League play-off this evening. His comments come ahead of what is expected to be a highly challenging encounter for the Norwegian side.
Crystal Palace enter the competition as one of several English clubs competing in Europe this season. Their participation comes after some initial controversy regarding which European tournament they would compete in. The club had originally insisted on a place in the Europa League, considering it a reward for winning the FA Cup. However, their appeal was rejected due to UEFA’s regulations on multi-club ownership, as one of their shareholders held significant shares in Olympique Lyon. This ruling ultimately placed them in the Conference League play-off round.
Palace Expected to Progress
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Despite their disappointment, Palace remain favourites to advance to the league phase of the competition. Many observers believe they should not only qualify but also perform strongly, in a manner similar to Chelsea’s run in the same competition last season. While it will be no simple task for Palace to go on and win the entire tournament, they are widely considered to be far stronger than Fredrikstad and are therefore expected to progress beyond this tie.
Nevertheless, the Norwegian side is not prepared to simply accept the prediction of defeat. One of their newest players has made it clear that they are determined to give a strong account of themselves on English soil.
Nuñez Confident in Fredrikstad’s Chances
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Nuñez shared his thoughts in comments published on [the Palace website](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-previews/view-from-the-opposition-fredrikstads-new-forward-on-playing-at-selhurst-park/), saying: “This is what you dream about. Now the boys get the chance to play here, in front of a full house, so there’s nothing better than that. If we keep it to a draw, I think they will be frustrated, and then we will have them where we want them. We know that the Premier League is a higher level than Eliteserien. We want to go out there and show that we can get a result that makes our supporters dream come true. That’s what we hope for.”
His words underline the sense of ambition and determination within Fredrikstad’s squad. While many expect Palace to progress, Nuñez and his teammates see the fixture as an opportunity to make a statement on a grand stage. Their goal will be to frustrate the Premier League side and to inspire belief among their own supporters that they can compete at this level.