Europa League place 'a welcome distraction from transfer woes'

The selfish decision would have been to hope Manchester City won the FA Cup.

But who could deny the football romantic's dream of Crystal Palace finally winning a major trophy? If Pep Guardiola's side had lifted the cup on 17 May then Nottingham Forest, already guaranteed European football, would have gained a place in the Europa League without all the furore that has followed.

I, for one, was happy that the Eagles had some silverware in their cabinet - and hoped Forest would see their own way into the Europa League, or even the Champions League.

But at the end of the day - to use a football cliche - it all comes down to merit; you get what you deserve.

Of course, if you have broken the rules - inadvertently or not - then you get what you deserve. While it feels cruel to deny Palace what they have achieved, there is a reason Evangelos Marinakis put his shares into a blind trust.

The south London club will feel unfairly treated - but only in the same way that it felt when the Reds were docked points last year for falling foul of the PSR rules.

It is a messy affair and football authorities on both sides of the Channel are not making a lot of friends beyond the top clubs, who are rarely punished in this fashion. But who are we to look a gift horse in the mouth? If Forest are to take Palace's place, then there will no play-offs to navigate next month, with a bigger prize to boot.

Last season, winning the Europa League last season was worth about £26.5m while, in contrast, the Conference League was only just over half at £15m. But beyond revenues, the winner takes a place in the Champions League.

As the current Europa League holders, Tottenham Hotspur's new-found wealth has been the cause of anguish at the City Ground this week with a £60m move for Morgan Gibbs-White, following fellow Champions League qualifiers Newcastle United's £55m bid for Anthony Elanga.

A place in the Europa League would be a welcome distraction from transfer woes, and something to seriously look forward to.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external