What now for Crystal Palace?

By implementing these changes, the Eagles finally have the chance to soar

After years of mediocrity, an FA Cup win is the perfect opportunity to propel themselves to the top. Here’s how they should do it.

If football teams could be defined in one word, Crystal Palace would be “average”. Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2013, the club has never finished higher than 10th or lower than 15th. The Eagles are never contenders for European football, nor are they in danger of relegation. There are other teams in this same category, such as Brentford or Fulham, teams that have been languishing in mid-table for years. However, Crystal Palace now have sizeable advantage compared to others like them: next year, Selhurst Park will be hosting European nights. Thanks to their FA Cup triumph on Saturday, Crystal Palace have the chance to forever change the trajectory of the club, to forever leave the category of “average”, and join the big boys in Europe. They must not waste this chance, as it might not come again for many decades. Here are the steps club leadership should take to become a regular in European competitions. 

The most difficult challenge a club like Crystal Palace face is keeping ahold of their stars players. Members of the squad such as Eberechi Eze or Jean-Philippe Mateta are highly sought-after by top teams who regularly compete in Europe. The Eagles must resist the temptation of large profits, and do their very best to keep crucial players. Even though they might be able to generate in excess of £100 million in player sales, club leadership must think about the impact of these sales in the future. Crystal Palace may never possess a squad as talented as this one, and paired with an exciting manager who has an impressive track record in the Europa League (victory with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022), they might just be able to go all the way. If these players are sold to European giants, the Eagles will never compete for continental football, and will forever remain one of the most average teams in Premier League history. The club must convince stars of the Glasner project, which in only one full season has already yielded a major trophy, to stay for at least one more year and see how far they go in the Europa League. Not only will this strategy pay off on the field, but it will also reap benefits for the finances of the club, as they will be able to sell stars like Eze for higher prices, and serve as an attractive destination for youngsters attempting to prove themselves in England and Europe. 

Next, the coaching staff must re-think which competitions to prioritize. During the 25/26 season, the Eagles are participating in four major competitions (five if you include the Community Shield), and don’t have the squad depth or quality to thrive in all of them. Instead of performing mediocrely in all of them, Palace must prioritize. At the bottom of the list must be the Premier League. The club

doesn’t have the funds or talent to chase a top 5 or 6 finish in the league, nor do they run the risk of being relegated, and should therefore be content with another mid-table finish. However, this doesn’t mean the South Londoners should relinquish European football, they should attempt to reach it in other ways. The team should try its very best in the cup competitions, because it is a more attainable path to success, as their FA Cup victory has shown. By placing an emphasis on knockout-style tournaments, not only will upsets become more likely, but the club will constantly compete for silverware and therefore European football. Their style of play, and particularly Oliver Glasner’s tactical vision is more suited to cups, as it focuses on a strong defense, a low backline and rapid counter-attacks to create chances. This philosophy is not very productive in a league, but as Saturday showed, it yields sensational results elsewhere. 

Finally, Crystal Palace must emulate other teams who have recently escaped the clutches of mid-table, such as Brighton. After becoming a contender for European football, club leadership created one of the most extensive and successful scouting networks in world football. The club has become the ideal destination for budding talents seeking to prove their worth in the most competitive leagues thanks to an exciting philosophy and occasional continental competitions. They have become a team that has succeeded on the pitch, but also financially, with enormous player sales such as Moises Caicedo (£115 million). Crystal Palace should recreate this success. If they perform well in Europe, the club will become a great environment for talented young players, and could translate this into footballing and financial success. It is very unlikely that Palace ever evolve into a top-6 team, and the best outcome for the club is one in which they can balance participating in European competitions and making large profits.