News about Troy Parrott
There's more to the modern Europa League than tiny crowds and knife-wielding ultras, writes MATT BARLOW... just ask Brighton
www.dailymail.co.uk,
October 21, 2024
MATT BARLOW: Not too long ago the Europa League felt like a booby prize. There was the Thursday-Sunday schedule and travel to unfamiliar, distant locations, combined with a lack of interest, weakened teams and distinctly sub-capacity crowds. There was not a lot of money to be made in the early rounds and sometimes clubs even lost money when it was the plain old UEFA Cup. But on Thursday night inside the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, the competition seemed like the most exciting thing in the world. Chairman Tony Bloom rekindled the drama of Joao Pedro's late goal to secure Brighton top spot in Group B last season, while others recalled the pinch-yourself draw that promised games with Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens.