Crystal Palace veterans still recall the heartbreak against Manchester United in 1990 and again in 2016, matches that slipped away after brave performances. Those memories have shaped the narrative inside Selhurst Park throughout this season’s run.
Oliver Glasner has embraced the club’s history rather than hiding from it. Training camp video released last week shows the coach screening highlights of those finals, encouraging players to visualise a different ending under his stewardship.
Club ambassador Mark Bright, part of the 1990 squad, addressed the dressing room before the semi final and urged belief that legacy moments rarely offer second invitations. Players responded with a three nil victory over Aston Villa.
Current captain Marc Guéhi says the squad is determined to honour supporters who have waited thirty five years for redemption. He highlighted the commitment of fans who travel weekly from Kent and Sussex as motivation to deliver a first major trophy.
Palace have also learned from tactical shortcomings in previous finals. Assistant coach Emanuel Pogatetz has focused on set piece organisation, citing United’s late equaliser in 2016 as a cautionary tale.
Selhurst banners now carry a simple slogan: Finish the story. On seventeen May the Eagles hope to script the chapter their predecessors could not.
