Oliver Glasner admits winning the FA Cup could mean more to Crystal Palace than Manchester City.
Palace go to Wembley in search of the club’s first major trophy with most neutrals cheering them on against City, the dominating force in English football for nine years under Pep Guardiola.
‘If something is the first time in your life then maybe it means more to you than when you have it every single year,’ said Glasner. ‘City, I don’t know how many trophies they’ve won and finals they have played in under Pep. It’s definitely more than Crystal Palace.
City are looking to win the FA Cup for an eighth time, a third under Guardiola, and Glasner will challenge his Palace players to not only make history but create unforgettable personal memories and bonds of togetherness that will never fade.
Tapping into his own experiences winning the Austrian Cup twice as a player, he said: ‘I remember the moment when you get the medal and lift the trophy. When you celebrate and when you come home, showing the trophy to the fans.
Oliver Glasner suggested winning the FA Cup could mean more to Crystal Palace than Man City
Glasner’s side are hoping to become the first Crystal Palace side to win a major trophy
Man City, however, are aiming for an eighth FA Cup triumph and third under Pep Guardiola
‘All these celebrations. All these positive feelings. These are the things that will always stay in my heart and in my mind. The best thing about being part of football is to have these moments and share them with great guys.’
Although he will wear a club suit for Wembley, Glasner will pack his ‘lucky’, black Hugo Boss jumper and hopes it will be its final outing because his superstition allows him to change his outfit after winning a trophy.
‘It’s a special game for me,’ said the Palace boss. ‘I appreciate these moments, these games. This is just how I am. I will never forget when I was a boy watching these kinds of games on TV. I thought how great it could be to be part of this. And now I am.’
As for his own future, linked with jobs in Germany and as a possible successor to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, Glasner vowed not to be distracted.
‘It’s the wrong time to think about your personal future,’ he said. ‘It’s the same reason I didn’t talk to any single player. If you start to talk about it, you get distracted, and this we can’t allow. We need 100 per focus, 100 per cent energy, 100 per cent togetherness to win this title otherwise it’s not possible.’
Even so, the 50-year-old Austrian knows any club of Crystal Palace’s size building success will have individuals in the sights of bigger, wealthier clubs.
‘It could be, it happened last year with one or two and could be again,’ said Glasner. ‘I really trust the chairman and the owners. I’m pretty sure we won’t sell eight or nine players.
‘I’m convinced every player sees the development of the club and the team and everybody wants to be part of the development and then let’s see.
Glasner has vowed not to be distracted amid reports linking him away from Crystal Palace
Captain Marc Guehi, a target for Newcastle, echoed the focus on delivering for Crystal Palace
‘It’s football and it can be because the transfer window will open again, a few transfers will be executed but everyone who is here has a contract and let’s see what is going on.’
Palace captain Marc Guehi, with one year on his contract and a transfer target for Newcastle, echoed his boss.
‘The most important is just always doing the best that I can for this football club,’ said Guehi.
‘I come in every day and I try to be the same. I try to work hard. You know, this club has given me a lot. I’m still under contract, so my focus is always at this club.’
