Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner spoke to the media after his side’s impressive victory over Aston Villa at Wembley, securing their place in the Emirates FA Cup Final against either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City.
Discussing the manner in which his team carried out the performance, Glasner remained humble in his thoughts.
“It’s easy to talk about it, but it’s difficult to execute it like the players did today. So, all the credit to them for sticking to the plan and how hard they were working.”
Eberechi Eze’s opener was the big moment in a game filled with confident strikes and brilliant goals, and Glasner remarked: “I see this finishing in training on the edge of the box, we already have amazing finishers.”
For a moment in the fixture, it looked as if the elusive second wasn’t going to come. Despite the finishing that was on display for the eventual winners, the game didn’t come without its fair share of dips for the Austrian manager.
“We created a couple of really good chances first half, [Tyrick] Mitchell he was really disappointed because he has no goals maybe he’s saving it for the final”, said Oliver Glasner grinning. The moment for Mitchell ending up being a small blemish on an otherwise hard-working and impactful performance from the young wing-back.
Embed from Getty ImagesLooking ahead to the preparation for the final, and the games that will come between now and then for the Eagles, Glasner added: “They’ll have a few days off regardless of the result today and we will meet on Thursday and prepare for Nottingham and Tottenham.”
“I think the best approach for the final is to show two great performances because then we have belief we have confidence, but of course we can watch the second semi final tomorrow on the sofa“, he explained, knowing that despite the occasion and the joy of the winning at such a “fantastic stadium”, they cannot afford to take their eye off the ball if they are to continue their run in the Emirates FA Cup.
But it wasn’t all business talk from Palace’s manager, as he was questioned about what the celebrations were like after the game.
“You will see the big men dancing in the middle of the dressing room.”
And when asked about if he joined his players in jubilation: “Me? No! It’s better if not, but again it’s all the happiness and the pride of how we performed […] for me I’m really proud and I’m seeing that walking in front of the stands walking in front of the people. How happy they are and then in the dressing room and it’s a great moment but I think when I start dancing I will destroy this moment.”
Manchester City and Nottingham Forest will meet at Wembley on Sunday 27 April, with the winner securing their place in the Emirates FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, which will be played again at Wembley on Saturday 17 May.