Football
‘As a Crystal Palace fan I’d swap the FA Cup for Premier League stability in a heartbeat’
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.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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