Twenty-six years ago, Crystal Palace took on Manchester United in the FA Cup final. On Saturday, the same two teams will meet again (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX) for the right to lift one of the most prestigious domestic cups in world soccer.
Alan Pardew is a common thread. He played for Palace that season, and is managing them in this one.
Here are a few other things to know about the final:
History lesson: This is only the second time Palace has reached the FA Cup final. The London club has never won it, losing, 1-0, to United in a replay in the 1990 season.
Man in the middle: Mark Clattenburg draws the assignment for the final. He’s also going to be in charge of the Champions League final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid on May 28.
Team news: Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako should be back for the Eagles, while Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Marcos Rojo should all be fit for the Red Devils. Marouane Fellaini is also available after serving a suspension.
Missing on the resume: Neither Michael Carrick nor Wayne Rooney own a FA Cup winners medal.
They said it, part one: “They keep the ball really well. We’re going to have to be patient at times,” Pardew told the BBC. “We are going to be the side that needs to fight that bit harder to win, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. We have got areas of the pitch where I think we’re slightly superior and we’ve got to make those areas count.”
They said it, part two: “I have to disappoint a lot of players now,” Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal said in his pre-match press conference. “I have to disappoint nine in advance. Then I have to select the team, then I disappoint players because they think they could play. I worked with 27 players this season. They all try to do their best. I believe in them. But then you have to say he is not in the squad. That is not nice. They have all worked very hard. It’s always done individually. It cannot be done in a group.”
Analysis: In the last 20 meetings between these sides in all competitions, Palace has exactly one win. Manchester United will dominate the ball and create most of the chances, while Pardew’s men will sit back and try to soak up all that pressure.
With it’s Europa League place assured, United won’t be under the sort of pressure it might have been. So, Van Gaal’s side should be relaxed and up for this challenge.
Prediction: Anything can happen in a cup final, but all signs point to a United victory. I’ll go for a 2-1 score line.
