And manager Pardew, who is set to sign a new contract before Saturday’s tea-time kickoff, said: “I know that Sir Alex Ferguson still feels that he is a Man United player: he can run fast all day, he’ll run as fast in the first minute as he will in the 120th minute and there aren’t many who can do that”. They’ve never let us down.
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A club the stature of Manchester United will always get talked about often and loudly in the Transfer Tavern. That comes from us leaning on him, the other players helping him, senior players like Adebayor giving him little nuggets of information.
Nerves will be seen right across Wembley, the city of Manchester and most importantly in the manager, who could manage that United team for the last time on Saturday.
“We are playing in the most prestigious temple of England”.
“For me, that’s not the most interesting point”.
There were plenty of happy faces among the players but after missing out on the top four on goal difference, they will all be aware how important it is to win the FA Cup final on Saturday. But still, you have nothing when you don’t win.
“When you win silverware it is always important, because a qualification is not a title”.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is desperate to make it third time lucky in the FA Cup final and land a blow for English managers in the increasingly cosmopolitan upper reaches of the domestic game.
It means there is significant motivation for all involved to beat Crystal Palace, even beyond the well-trodden narrative that only lifting the FA Cup can salvage something from what would otherwise be a disastrous season.
Van Gaal believes that away victories against Shrewsbury Town, Derby County and West Ham prior to the 2-1 semi-final win against Everton underline that his side would be worthy winners of the FA Cup.
“He told me to stay in Manchester because he would use me and that I would play”, he said.
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Following a strong start to the season, Palace won just two of their final 21 league games, which saw them finish 15th in the Premier League.
