"A greater concern lies in the way that Premier League clubs, gradually but discernibly, are dominating Europe's smaller competitions in a way Uefa surely could never have intended. Villa will be the eighth English finalists from the last 22 teams to reach the Europa League's showpiece. Should they win, it would be the first time since the first two years of the Uefa Cup, its predecessor with the same trophy, that sides from England have won the secondary tournament in consecutive seasons."
"Nonetheless, after lurching through the early stages with the cavalry sometimes held back, once the business end arose Palace were simply too good. Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk, clubs with rich European pedigree, battled gamely, but neither came especially close to holding them off. If Palace win one more test of strength against Rayo Vallecano, whose identity as their opposition at least makes the final a clash of traditional big-city upstarts, they will be the third English winners of the Conference League in four years."
"In south-east London on Thursday night, a jubilant Dean Henderson said Crystal Palace need to get back what we deserve. It was a reminder they felt affronted to be in the Conference League after losing their appeal against demotion from the Europa League. Nonetheless, after lurching through the early stages with the cavalry sometimes held back, once the business end arose Palace were simply too good."
"Two things can be true: it is a fairytale achievement, in their own context, for Palace to reach this level of a continental event for the first time; it is also the case that, even when stumbling over their own shoela"
Unai Emery’s potential fifth Europa League title would strengthen his reputation and demonstrate success with an English club. The broader issue is the growing influence of Premier League teams in Europe’s smaller tournaments. Aston Villa could become the first English side to win the secondary competition in consecutive seasons since the early UEFA Cup era. Crystal Palace, after feeling wronged by their move to the Conference League, advanced strongly once the knockout stages began. They overcame Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk and could secure a Conference League title with another win against Rayo Vallecano. Palace’s achievement is framed as both a fairytale milestone and part of a wider trend.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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