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‘As a Crystal Palace fan I’d swap the FA Cup for Premier League stability in a heartbeat’

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Crystal Palace faces Manchester City in the FA Cup final this Saturday, and it’s hard to overstate just how much this moment means. For lifelong supporters, this could go down as either the best or worst day in memory.

Since the club’s foundation in 1905—though some trace its origins back to 1861—fans have been waiting for a moment like this: the chance to lift a major trophy and, potentially, secure European football for the very first time.

And no, the 1991 Zenith Data Systems Cup and the Intertoto Cup don’t really count.

Opportunities like this don’t come around often for Palace. The club has only ever reached the FA Cup final twice before—in 1990 and 2016—and lost both times to Manchester United.

Given United’s current form, there’s a strong case to be made that facing them again might have been preferable. Instead,

Palace is up against a Manchester City side that spent more in the last transfer window than Palace has in the past three years combined.

Supporters can dream of an underdog story at Wembley. Maybe Marc Guehi and Dean Henderson can hold the line in defense while Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell push forward on the flanks.

Adam Wharton has the ability to control the game in midfield, and the attack boasts the red-hot Eberechi Eze, surprise package Ismaïla Sarr, and the booming Jean-Philippe Mateta—whose goal celebrations have become a fan favorite.

There’s a lot of hope, especially from long-time fans. The writer’s father, a loyal Palace supporter since 1972, has full confidence the team will lift the trophy.

But there’s also cautious optimism. Palace has earned a reputation for being “consistently inconsistent.” One week, they can demolish Brighton away, and the next, suffer a 5-1 defeat at home to Arsenal. Predicting the outcome of this final might just be a fool’s errand.

Still, the importance of the match extends beyond what happens on the pitch. For the fans walking up Wembley Way and the global community who proudly sing “Glad All Over,” this match represents something deeply personal.

The club means something to every supporter, especially those with roots in South London or, like the author, those born just miles from Selhurst Park.

The family connection runs deep. The writer’s dad, though born in Dublin, has supported Palace since witnessing a 5-0 win over Manchester United in 1972.

Over the years, fans have endured administration, relegation battles, and narrow escapes. They’ve celebrated promotion to the Premier League and witnessed a 12-year stay in the top flight.

Yet Palace has never finished higher than 10th nor lower than 15th—safe, but forgettable. It’s a steady existence that many clubs would envy, but it lacks the sparkle of silverware or European adventures.

While other similar-sized clubs have made memorable cup runs or even won titles, like Leicester City, Palace has always remained on the outside looking in. There are fond memories—Alan Pardew’s infamous dance, Andros Townsend’s screamer against City—but few moments of real glory.

This time, things could be different. Manager Oliver Glasner stands on the brink of history. A win today would redefine the club’s identity and provide a moment of joy that generations of fans have long dreamed of.

Even if it meant giving up every Wilfried Zaha step-over, every “boom” from Mateta, and every derby win over Brighton, lifting the FA Cup would be worth it.

Selhurst Park has long been hailed as one of the Premier League’s most electric stadiums. All it needs now is a trophy to match the passion that fills its stands. Maybe—just maybe—that day has finally arrived.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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