Alan Pardew revealed not even he thought Crystal Palace could beat Manchester United when he lined up in the old Wembley tunnel to face the English giants in 1990.
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He capped off the campaign by leading the team back to the Premier League, and was named the club’s player of the season. In one match you can lose a lot. “I hope his team turn up and play well for him – but more importantly I hope we win”. “When you lose, you have nothing”.
David De Gea was deservedly named as Manchester United’s player of the year for the second season in a row earlier this month – but he’s not warranted every accolade that’s come his way this term.
“You have to wait and see the line-up”, he added.
“The most interesting point is that we are able to win something. They have a lot of speed in attack, on the counter, so it shall be very hard”.
United captain Wayne Rooney had to ask Morgan Schneiderlin, Martial’s France team-mate, who the club’s star signing was.
He said: “All managers are under massive pressure whatever football club you’re at. It’s about this team getting to the cup final, and trying to win”. “We are not going there to be runners-up”, he said.
“They are both exciting players”.
“We’re going to have to be patient at times”.
“We’ve got areas on the pitch where I think we are slightly superior and we have to make that count”.
Van Gaal has passed Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian fit after recent knocks, though there are doubts over Morgan Schneiderlin, who missed the 3-1 win over AFC Bournemouth with illness.
Yohan Cabaye has no regrets swapping PSG for Crystal Palace.
Pardew etched his name in Palace folklore by netting an extra-time victor against Liverpool in the semi-finals and 26 years later, he is seeking to steer the club to their first major trophy. Only Arsenal (12) have won the trophy more times than the Red Devils.
“Also for Manchester United it is a big title”.
Zaha was signed by Ferguson before his shock retirement in 2013 when he left United as Premier League champions, so the Englishman never had the chance to impress the Scottish great.
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Twenty-four hours later Palace secured their place alongside them, outclassing Watford in a 2-1 victory far more emphatic than the scoreline suggested. “Coming out of Dutch football he’d done really well and scored a lot of goals, and he got off to the flawless start at Manchester United”, he said.
