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Can Palace really go all the way?
TL;DR
Crystal Palace aims to compete for the Conference League title, a competition that has allowed teams to win major European trophies since its inception in 2021. Previous winners include Roma and West Ham, who celebrated significant victories.
Key points
- Crystal Palace is competing in the Conference League.
- The Conference League started in 2021.
- Roma and West Ham are previous winners of the competition.
Crystal PalaceRomaWest HamConference League
[Getty Images]
When the Conference League was first introduced back in 2021 there were some who questioned the value of the competition.
But it has offered many teams the chance to do something they had never done before - win a major European trophy.
There were wild scenes of celebration when Roma became the inaugural winners, while the following year West Ham claimed a dramatic last-minute success against Fiorentina to end their 43-year wait for a major trophy.
Thousands gathered in the streets of east London to welcome back the victorious Hammers, underlining how much the win meant to the club and their supporters.
Crystal Palace fans will no doubt feel the same should their side go all the way and claim yet more silverware in a memorable 12 months.
Former Eagles defender James Tomkins said on TNT Sports: "The last couple of seasons have been incredible.
"They never expected to be in a European competition a couple of seasons ago but now they are going from strength to strength in this competition.
"They will feel they can go all the way."
Despite being debutants, Palace were installed as favourites to win the Conference League at the start of the season.
It took a while for them to live up to that tag, with many of their performances in Europe looking somewhat turgid.
But their 3-0 win against Fiorentina - two-time finalists in the Conference League - showed what they are capable of.
Next up for Palace is a two-legged semi-final with Shakhtar, with Strasbourg facing in the other tie.
Q&A
What is the significance of the Conference League for teams like Crystal Palace?
The Conference League provides teams the opportunity to win a major European trophy, which can enhance their prestige and success.
Who were the previous winners of the Conference League?
The previous winners include Roma, who won the inaugural title, and West Ham, who claimed victory the following year.
How has the Conference League changed perceptions of European competitions?
Initially questioned, the Conference League has proven valuable by allowing teams to achieve significant milestones, such as winning major trophies.
