Eberechi Eze pulled out of the Crystal Palace squad on the morning of their first-ever major European fixture, in which Jean Phillippe-Mateta scored to earn them a 1-0 victory over Fredrikstad.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner revealed Eze felt “not ready to play” in their UEFA Conference League qualifying play-off first leg ahead of his transfer to Arsenal, and the forward did not attend the match at Selhurst Park to bid a final farewell.
Eze’s move dominated the pre-match build-up ahead of a historic night for Palace in Europe, albeit not in the competition they wanted after being demoted from the Europa League. The home fans booed the Conference League anthem before kick-off and then started anti-UEFA chants.
Marc Guehi (left) started and captained Crystal Palace again amid transfer interest from Liverpool
Justin Devenny was Eze’s late replacement, but it was talisman Mateta who deservedly put the hosts in front early in the second half, cleverly directing Will Hughes’ shot past the goalkeeper with his head.
Mateta celebrates his goal with Guehi
Mateta had gone close to scoring in the first half, hitting the right post with a deflected shot as the stubborn Norwegian visitors held out until half-time.
Daniel Munoz also hit the woodwork with a late header to leave Fredrikstad with still a glimmer of hope of qualifying for the league phase.
Fredrikstad will host the second leg next Thursday on August 28.
Glasner reveals how Eze pulled out
Speaking before kick-off, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner said:
“Honestly, I expected he [Eze] would start today for us. But he called me this morning and said that he doesn’t feel well to play in the evening.
“I have to accept it. Everything else, you have to ask the chairman. I have to accept it, if a player tells me he is not ready to play.
“I then called the player who starts instead, which is Justin Devenny, to see if he is ready. It’s my responsibility to prepare the players who play for us in the best way. So it was quite a busy day.
“You don’t like to change your starting XI on a matchday, especially in this situation – a first time playing European football for Crystal Palace. But again we have to deal with it.”
‘He won’t play for us again’
Glasner added afterwards: “Against a deep block, you need a player who can dribble past two players and score. This is what Eze gave us. He won’t play for us again, so it doesn’t make sense to talk about him.
“We wish him all the best. For us, it’s about bringing in the right players in the window.”
Parish: We will bring in players
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish speaking to Channel 5:
“It is what it is. He (Eze) has been fantastic for the club and we all love him. We are pleased he will go on and fulfil the ambitions he has.
“We have to find other players to bring in to support the team and Oliver. We will bring in players but it’s finding the right one. We will try and use the money, to make ourselves broader with a few more options.”
