LONDON : Manchester City may regard Saturday’s FA Cup final as some kind of consolation prize at the end of a humbling season but for opponents Crystal Palace it means far, far more.
While City’s trophy cabinet has been groaning under the strain of a constant supply of silverware for more than a decade, Palace’s has been simply gathering dust.
Palace, the south London club that retains an old-school charm thanks to its passionate fan-base and dated Selhurst Park stadium, have been in the Premier League since 2013, their longest uninterrupted residence in England’s top flight.
During that period, however, the club has managed only two top-half finishes, and even those were modest 10th places.
Before that, the club with roots dating back to 1857 and the glittering, and now ruined, exhibition hall that it owes its name to, had bounced around the divisions with little reward.
In actual fact, Palace have never won a major trophy despite an esteemed list of former managers that include Arthur Rowe, Terry Venables, Roy Hodgson and the mercurial Malcolm Allison.
They reached their first FA Cup final in 1990, drawing a thrilling encounter 3-3 against Manchester United in which Ian Wright scored twice as a substitute before losing by the only goal in the replay.
Palace reached the final again in 2016 under Alan Pardew, again suffering heartbreak at the hands of United.
This time, despite being up against a still-formidable Manchester City, there is genuine optimism that it could be third time lucky and that Palace’s anthem ‘Glad All Over’ will be echoing around Wembley Stadium in the early evening.
It is not blind optimism either. Austrian Oliver Glasner has moulded a team full of flair and tenacious work ethic in his 15 months in charge and Palace have equalled their best Premier League points haul with two games left to play.
They have proven match-winners in the likes of talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr while Adam Wharton is regarded as one of the best young English midfielders in the country with top clubs eyeing him enviously.
At the back, England international Marc Guehi is another player Palace might struggle to keep hold of.
Palace outclassed Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa to reach the final, and while City remain favourites, few would be that surprised if Palace leave Pep Guardiola’s side without a domestic trophy for the first time since 2016-17.
Not that this season has been all plain sailing. Palace won six of their last seven league matches in 2023-24 after Glasner replaced Hodgson in February last year but had to wait until their ninth Premier League game this season to record a first win.
Palace did not panic though, with chairman Steve Parish convinced that former Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg head coach Glasner was the man to take the club to the next level.
Some will mock them for being in their standard 12th place this season, but perhaps times are a changing under Glasner.
“He’s made all of us think differently. That’s what he’s brought to the club: positivity, and a mentality,” Parish said.
“Oliver thinks we can win every game against anyone.”
Former Palace forward John Salako, who played in the 1990 final, believes it will be third-time lucky.
“(Glasner) is a genius,” he said. “They’ve got more than enough to beat City. I think we’re going to take the next step.”
