Football Glasner hails Palace after historic FA Cup final win

CRYSTAL Palace manager Oliver Glasner hailed his players for writing anew chapter in Crystal Palace's history following their 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.

- Philip DUNCAN

Eberechi Eze's 16th-minute goal and Dean Henderson’s penalty save paved the way for Palace to land their first major trophy and a spot in the Europa League next season.

“We said before the game that we wanted to write our own history and we have written a big chapter in our history, and next year we will do that again when we play in Europe,” said Glasner.

“Today was our day and a day for our fans and it had to happen that we won. It is a strange thing. I feel empty. I will start to realise what we have achieved tomorrow or maybe Monday.

“I don’t know when it will come but it is something special.”

Glasner, still in his first full season in charge at Selhurst Park, was fighting to save his job following a poor start to the Premier League campaign, where his side collected just three points from their first eight matches.

However, they head into the final two games of the season in 12th and with their first FA Cup secured.

The 50-year-old Austrian continued: “The game was so tough. Nobody expected Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup, but you can see what you can get when you are patient as a club, so it is a big credit to the supporters.