Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White says new boss Vitor Pereira has been "really clear with what he wants us to do" and that the players "have bought into" that.

Speaking before tonight's Europa League play-off first leg, Gibbs-White said: "As players, you get used to change. Managers come and go, players come and go, so I think it is important that players stick together in those moments.

"Since the new manager has come in, it has been really exciting and he has been really clear with what he wants us to do.

"He has brought in a clear idea of how we want to play and the players have bought into that already."

On the atmosphere expected at Fenerbahce, Gibbs-White added: "I don't think you can really prepare for an atmosphere.

"You have just got to focus on your game, the team and what you can do to help the team as much as possible - try not to pay attention to the atmosphere."

Matt Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily

Image source, Getty Images

I feel for players like Elliot Anderson, for instance, who is building his international career and looking to play for England in the summer.

He's now finding it really hard to get into that rhythm of showing he is a top player with the performances that Forest are putting out and how difficult it is to get it going in the team with different managers, different philosophies.

There are a lot of players who are quite heavily affected by this individually as well.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking to TNT Sports: "Our European journey continues, already eight games last year and now it is the knockout stages. It is important to get a good result and then of course go through.

On the rest since playing Brighton: "Every week of training is important. We bought three new players in January then we had to get our back three sorted after Marc Guehi left us and Jefferson Lerma was injured in the Burnley game. We have to be very organised behind the ball, don't give them transitions and then be patient and score a goal."

On January signing Jorgen Strand Larsen: "He is one of those players who came in very late and he has to know his team-mates. He had a good game against Burnley. Every week of training and every game helps us."

Steve Hodge
Former England and Forest midfielder on BBC Radio Nottingham

Nuno [Espirito Santo] going when they knew he was going, Ange [Postecoglou] changing the system completely and making everything unstable and then bringing Sean Dyche in, with whatever happened there, who knows?

But, by the end of it, you got the impression that one or two players weren't happy with the manager. The majority were, but one or two weren't.

It's been a continuous merry-go-round of people not being happy with the manager, for whatever reason, so, I think sometimes it's good to have someone who is quiet and calm, unassuming and it's not all about him. I think players like and respect that, because they are the stars.

I don't know how he motivates them, that will have to come from within. These guys have World Cups to go to, things to prove, so they all have motivation to be top players. They are top players.

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham Sport

Image source, Getty Images

And so begins life under a fourth manager in four seasons. Nuno Espirito Santo (summer), Ange Postecoglou (autumn) and Sean Dyche (winter) have led us to Vitor Pereira to take us into spring. What a year.

Sitting here before this evening's game it's hard not to reflect on the league phase and the missed opportunities in it.

The enjoyable trip to Seville for the first game was an undoubted highlight and home victories over Porto, Malmo and Ferencvaros at least meant we carry on into the knockout stages, but the dreadful collapse against Midtjylland, the poor draw at Sturm Graz and the lack of punch in the Braga rain all cost Forest dearly and are the reason they find themselves in this play-off.

But now comes a new start - another one - and I can't remember a managerial appointment being treated with such a level of apathy from so many supporters.

The fans we've spoken to are tired of welcoming a new man through the door and tired of hoping this one will be the answer to all their problems.

Pereira will need every bit of his charm and positivity to win over the fans (and players) to save this season.

And while the Europa League has been more of a distraction than the joyous addition supporters had hoped for, a win in Turkey could provide the hope that this largely miserable season could yet have a happy ending.

This will be the first European meeting between Zrinjski Mostar and Crystal Palace, with Bosnian sides managing just one win across 10 European matches against English opposition (D2 L7) – Velez Mostar defeated Derby County in the 1974-75 UEFA Cup (4-1).

They are yet to defeat an English club.

Loz: Palace playing against another low block..... Let's hope we've learnt something from Macclesfield. I'm not optimistic.

Image source, Getty Images

For Vitor Pereira, he will be kicking off his Nottingham Forest career in familiar territory.

He had two spells in charge of Fenerbahce, first in 2015-16 and then again in 2021.

Consequently he knows just how impressive the atmosphere can be at the club, but backs his new players to thrive in it.

"For the players, this is the atmosphere that they enjoy to play in," he said. "They enjoy to play in this kind of energy.

"For me, it is a pleasure to be here and to face a team with passion and to show our passion, show our energy, show our ambition. To play with courage and organisation."

The Stadion Bijeli Brijeg is the host tonight and it's a first for Crystal Palace to play here.

It's got a capacity of 9,000 but that will soon be boosted to 13,000 with the planned renovation.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Pewter
Crystal Palace fan writer

Away from the Premier League and an almost must-win fixture against Wolves on Sunday, the allure of winning the Conference League is probably underpinning the remainder of Glasner's time at Palace.

Only a few hundred fans will be travelling to Bosnia-Herzegovina this week, but it will be a critical moment for the season.

For as long as the team can stay in the competition, there are always greener pastures just over the horizon, with a vision of ending the season with yet another trophy.

Without that, it will be hard to keep making the case for the Austrian manager, even though we may want to.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external.

This evening is a new experience for Crystal Palace.

It's the first time they will play in a knockout match in a major European competition.

But can they claim a first-leg lead?

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily

On Vitor Pereira's appointment:

"He's a manager that's had a lot of experience in selling his idea at various different clubs, coming in at various different times. He's had previous with the owner [Evangelos Marinakis] at Olympiacos.

"He kind of feels that he trusts in his work. He understands what the requirements are and he knows that it might not be a long-term thing but he is coming into a club that has good players and has spent money on some players that are pretty handy.

"The mixed opinion is a major problem and having four managers in that period of time, being pulled this way or the other, I think the players heads are spinning and they don't quite know where to go so he has got his work cut out.

"I know he is experienced at this kind of thing but I do think it's a tough job for him."

Andros Townsend
Former Tottenham midfielder on the Football Daily

Vitor Pereira has the experience of Evangelos Marinakis, he knows what he likes and what he doesn't like. I think for Marinakis and Nottingham Forest, they are at the point of no return and I wouldn't be surprised if this manager comes in and he doesn't make a good start and they got another manager in just to get them over the line.

Can Pereira get a few wins just to give them some breathing space going in to the remaining games?

You lose so much money now when you get relegated to the Championship and that is such a difficult league to get out of.

Zrinjski Mostar: Karacic, Vranjkovic, Barisic, Dujmovic, Mamic; Djurasek, Savic, Abramovic, Ivancic, Mikic, Cuze

Subs: Bogdan, Sajko, Lagumdzija, Karacic, Juric, Sakota, Arapovic, Nalic, Surdanovic, Cavar, Memija, Majic

Oliver Glasner makes three changes to the Crystal Palace side that lost 3-2 to Burnley in the Premier League eight days ago, with Chadi Riad, Borna Sosa and Brennan Johnson replacing Jefferson Lerma, Tyrick Mitchell and Evann Guessand in the starting 11.

Crystal Palace: Henderson (C), Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Riad, Sosa; Kamada, Wharton; Johnson, Sarr, Strand Larsen

Subs: Benitez, Matthews, Mitchell, Clyne, Canvot, Cardines, Hughes, Rodney, Devenny, Pino, Guessand

Image source, BBC Sport

Fenerbahce make one change to the side that started their 3-2 win against Trabzonspor in the Turkish top flight on 14 February, as Ismail Yuksek makes way for Sidiki Cherif.

That means former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson begins in goal, Nelson Semedo, who played under Vitor Pereira at Wolves last term is at right-back, while the likes of ex Chelsea star N’Golo Kante will play alongside one-time Arsenal man Matteo Guendouzi, in midfield.

Fenerbahce XI: Ederson, Semedo, Skriniar, Oosterwolde, Muldur Guendouzi, Kante, Asensio, Talisca, Cherif, Akturkoglu

Subs: Cetin, Biterge, Brown, Soyuncu, Yuksek, Fred, Demir, Mercan, Nene, Ekici. Aydın

Image source, BBC Sport

Vitor Pereira makes two changes to the Nottingham Forest starting line up in his first match in charge of the club after Sean Dyche was dismissed following the 0-0 draw against Wolves in the Premier League on 11 February.

Igor Jesus comes in for Lorenzo Lucca and Murillo replaces Morato.

Nottingham Forest XI: Ortega, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus.

Subs: Gunn, Willows, Morato, Ndoye, Dominguez, Lucca, Yates, Jair Cunha, McAtee, Bakwa, Abbott.

Here are the full list of Europa League fixtures tonight with Celtic also in action as they host Stuttgart. You will be able to follow dedicated live text coverage of that game here.

Hello!

After a couple of days of Champions League knock-out phase play-offs games, it is time for the Europa and Conference League to take centre stage.

Two Premier League teams are in action as Nottingham Forest are at Fenerbahce in their Europa League first leg tie while Crystal Palace are in Conference League action. They are at Bosnia and Herzegovina side Zrinjski.

Both games kick off at 17:45 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

In what has been something of an extraordinary season for Nottingham Forest manager-wise, they will have their fourth coach of the season in the dugout today as Vitor Pereira takes charge for the first time.

Will things finally click at Forest under the ex-Wolves boss?