There is an art to navigating Europe for the first time.
It is a delicate blend to capture and keep. Have fun, savour the travels, the new venues and unusual opponents. Otherwise there really is no point in qualifying in the first place.
And yet do not lose ground in the Premier League as extra demands stretch a squad that is likely not as a strong as it was because unexpected success will be preyed upon by the biggest and wealthiest of rivals.
Another Palace triumph
Oliver Glasner, having won in Europe with Eintracht Frankfurt, has managed it skilfully.
Sure, there were pinch points in midwinter when the congested schedule and strain on the squad collided with an open transfer window and attempts to lure one or two away.
These problems were probably enhanced by him revealing plans to leave at the end of the season, but Palace fans spent their day at the Gtech Community Stadium singing about Leipzig in the Europa Conference League final without worrying about relegation.
Palace fans spent their day at the Gtech Community Stadium singing about Leipzig in the Europa Conference League final without worrying about relegation
That is chiefly down to Glasner’s ability to manage, and it is good to see him back in the good books
That is chiefly down to Glasner’s ability to manage, and it is good to see him back in the good books. He may still be leaving but he has helped the club to its most successful era and maybe the best is yet to come against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany on Wednesday week.
After losing Eberechi Eze last summer and Marc Guehi in January, and with all the uncertainty around Jean-Philippe Mateta and Glasner’s imminent exit, it has been another triumph of a season.
Two points surrendered
Having reached the latter stages of the Conference League, this part of the season for Glasner is all about trying to keep his squad fit and fresh without losing the rhythm of competition.
Unlike Tottenham last season, who abandoned the Premier League because they were safe and had to keep certain key players free from injuries for the Europa League, they have managed to keep picking up points.
At full strength, they are a very good team. They started well and should have had the points sewn up in the first half. Twice they led but left Brentford with only a point.
Ismaila Sarr gave them an early lead from a penalty. It was awarded by VAR intervention for a foul by Caoimhin Kelleher on Sarr. The visitors then hit the woodwork twice while firmly on top in the first half.
Adam Wharton put them 2-1 up in the second half, with a low drive through a crowd to deceive Kelleher. By the end though, they were at full stretch, hanging on and beginning to fret about injuries.
Chadi Riad hobbled off looking sore and his replacement Chris Richards twisted an ankle in an awkward landing but made it through to the end, albeit in obvious pain.
Brentford did fight back for a point with a header by Dango Outtara in the 88th minute after a long throw flicked on at the near post
Missed opportunity
Brentford did fight back for a point with a header by Dango Outtara in the 88th minute after a long throw flicked on at the near post.
It was his second goal of the game, although he knew more about this one than the first, which came when Palace defender Jaydee Canvot headed a clearance onto Outtara and it bounced back into the Palace net.
The Bees summoned a strong finish. They were the better team through the final half hour of the contest after Palace boss Glasner made changes and put Dean Henderson’s goal under pressure with Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade both going close. There would be no sting in the tail.
Keith Andrews knew the win would have put his team into a strong position for European qualification.
Fading Bees
Brentford’s run of one win in the last nine Premier League games features six draws. Perhaps they will reflect at the end of the season on what could have been achieved had they turned one or two of them into wins.
As it is, there is work to do on the last day at Liverpool if they are to step into Europe for the first time and tackle all the complication it brings.
If they fall short, it should not take anything away from the wonders performed by Keith Andrews to be sitting in the top half of the Premier League table after the club lost its head coach and half of his staff, the captain and two top scorers last summer.
