article-image

Glasner hails Palace's 'togetherness' after FA Cup triumph

1
0
Clock Icon4 hoursSoccer

Oliver Glasner lauded Crystal Palace's "togetherness" after they secured their first-ever major trophy by beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Eberechi Eze scored the decisive goal in the 16th minute, with Palace putting in a solid defensive display to help them get over the line.

Dean Henderson also saved Omar Marmoush's first-half penalty, while Daniel Munoz saw a second Palace goal disallowed after the break as Ismaila Sarr had interfered from an offside position.

Palace are the first English club to win their first major title since Wigan Athletic in the 2012-13 FA Cup, who also beat City in the final that year.

They are the 45th side to win the FA Cup, and the first team to win it for the first time since Leicester City in 2021.

It is also a win that qualifies Palace for the Europa League next season – it will be their first-ever appearance in a major European competition.

Glasner, the first Austrian to take charge of a team in an FA Cup final, praised his side's attitude.

"To be honest, I can't really believe it because sometimes when you play this game ten times, you win it once," Glasner told ITV Sport.

"We scored the first time we were in their half, then we defended... we had a great goalkeeper, a great mentality, a great togetherness.

"I'm really proud of the team, of the whole staff and all the credit to them."

Eze has scored in five successive games in all competitions for the first time in his career, with his winner at Wembley his sixth in five matches.

Palace scored with what was their first shot of the match and their first touch in City's box.

"This is special, I don't even know what to say. Thank God, only God could do this," Eze told BBC Match of the Day.

"Facing the team that's been the best in the world for years, to show that type of spirit and energy... only God."

Asked about the counter-attack leading to his goal, he added: "I couldn't breathe! City keep the ball so well, you have to work so hard to get anything from them. When you get in their box, you have to make the chance count.

"I've come a long way. To be in this position now - it's hard to use the right words here."