Eagles make all in football really feel glad all over

WHEN Eberechi Eze was standing on a pitch festooned with joyous Crystal Palace players, describing his winning goal, he said he had been struggling to breathe.

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And so many inside Wembley knew the feeling. This was breathlessly joyous, breathlessly fractious, breathlessly intense.

This was a moment for Palace players, staff and fans - this was a moment in time for the FA Cup, the grand, old competition that has never lost its sheen, but is now basking in its shiniest glory.

This was about resilience - the resilience of Dean Henderson, who lost his father at the start of the season and said his dad would have been watching his son produce every dive, block and intervention on this memorable day.

This was about determination - of players such as Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was just thankful to be able to resume his playing career after the horrific injury he suffered against Millwall in an earlier round.

This was about togetherness - the togetherness of a group of players, led marvellously by Marc Guehi until he had to go off, that defended heroically.