Nottingham Forest’s promotion to the UEFA Europa League has created a new rivalry with Crystal Palace, but the drama all occurred above Nuno Espírito Santo’s head.
Forest took Palace’s Europa League spot after the Eagles were ruled to be in breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations, forming an unlikely rivalry between the two sets of fans.
Therefore, going into Sunday’s clash at Selhurst Park, the conversation has centred around this UEFA issue, with Evangelos Marinakis’ attendance at the Palace game even up for debate.
Clearly, though, Espírito Santo’s focus was on the pitch but ahead of Sunday, he has revealed what he did in response to the situation that might earn him respect from the Palace faithful.
Oliver Glasner ahead of Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Nuno Espírito Santo spoke to Oliver Glasner amid UEFA drama
Ahead of the Premier League opener against Brentford, Espírito Santo revealed his worries about the Forest squad, but this week’s signings have at least eased that concern.
The UEFA drama looks set to dominate the Palace buildup, starting with an appearance on the Shut Up and Show More Football podcast where he revealed a conversation he had with Oliver Glasner around the Europa League fight.
He said: ‘The narrative that is being built is not the truth, we are not to blame. We have sympathy for the fans of Palace, extreme sympathy for their players and coaching staff, especially Oliver [Glasner] – and I told him.
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“But please, don’t put Forest as the bad guy because we are not.”
Ironically, Palace’s punishment for the multi-club ownership breach has manifested itself ahead of Sunday’s clash, with Glasner’s side facing a midweek game.
Crystal Palace’s Conference League demotion is already in effect
Forest are benefiting financially from the Europa League promotion, but also in terms of early-season schedule, with Palace having to face a Conference League qualifier.
Palace are facing Fredrikstad FK of Norway in their play-off game which isn’t exactly the most difficult task, but it does add complications to their preparations for the Forest clash.
Alongside this, Glasner is set to lose his star player as Eberechi Eze is close to completing his move to Arsenal, while Nuno ponders how to bed in his raft of star-studded arrivals.
Palace’s frustrations aimed at Forest will surely have them fired up for Sunday’s game, but the week of preparation has been far from smooth.