Crystal Palace is on the verge of making history as they prepare to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final. This marks their third appearance in the final, having previously lost to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016. Under the leadership of Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, the team has experienced a resurgence, matching their best Premier League points total. Glasner's tactical insights and revitalization of the squad have instilled a renewed sense of optimism among fans and players alike. Standout performances from Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze, and Marc Guehi have been instrumental in their journey to this pivotal match. The upcoming final represents a rare and significant opportunity for Palace to clinch their first major trophy since joining the Premier League in 2013.
As the team prepares for the final, Glasner emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performance rather than solely on their opponents. He highlighted the team's impressive cup run, including dominant victories over Fulham and Aston Villa. Despite being 12th in the Premier League, Palace has matched their record points tally with two games remaining. Glasner acknowledged the team's scoring capability against City, having netted two goals in each of their recent three meetings, but stressed the need for defensive adjustments to improve their chances. With the final approaching, Palace fans are eagerly anticipating the match, hoping it will mark the end of a long-standing title drought and bring long-awaited glory to the club.