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<\/p>\nOliver Glasner has managed to deliver Crystal Palace their first major trophy, having already lost two FA Cup finals in the past 25 years. Eberechi Eze’s 16th minute goal ended up being the winner as the Eagles beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 1-0.<\/p>\n
Palace held just 22% of the ball throughout the match, taking just seven shots compared to City’s 23 shots and 78% possession, but the only stats that will matter to Palace fans after this one is the scoreline.<\/p>\n
Keeping their 16th clean sheet of the season was key and whilst every player on the pitch in blue and red can be proud of their contribution, there were a few standout performers who really took the game by the scruff of the neck.<\/p>\n
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Crystal Palace were set up in their usual 3-4-2-1 shape, willing to absorb pressure from Manchester City in a deep block before bursting on the break and looking to cause them issues in transition.<\/p>\n
The Palace goal came from baiting the Manchester City press, a direct ball into Jean-Philippe Mateta, who held up play, found Daniel Munoz breaking forward down the right who then picked out Eberechi Eze who nestled it home.<\/p>\n
The first half had plenty of key moments, many of which had Dean Henderson at the heart of it. The 28-year-old shot stopper made six saves, all coming from inside the box, one of which being a penalty save and managed to make one punch.<\/p>\n
But it wasn’t just his saves that stole the headlines, as he was also part of a big VAR decision which could’ve seen the English keeper sent off.<\/p>\n
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One man who has been excellent throughout the entire season and was superb once more in the FA Cup final, Daniel Munoz. The energetic wingback was key to Glasner’s game plan, looking to hit City on the break.<\/p>\n
Of his 30 touches in the match, Munoz made nine of those touches in his own penalty box and a further six in the opposition penalty box (or just outside).<\/p>\n
Providing the assist for Eze’s goal, having one of his own chalked off for offside, making two key passes, making five tackles and one block, Munoz was key at both ends to the Eagles victory.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old Colombian was awarded man of the match for his performance, topping off a superb overall campaign for his first full season in English football.<\/p>\n
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Alongside Munoz and Henderson, Chris Richards was pivotal defending his own penalty box in this game, up against one of the most potent penalty box strikers in world football with Erling Haaland on the pitch.<\/p>\n
The central defender made 12 clearances, blocked four shots and won four out of his five aerial duels in the match, making sure he was first to every ball looped in towards the back post, something City often look to target.<\/p>\n
Glasner came in to the game with a plan, allowing City to control the game, suffering without the ball for long periods whilst being happy to deal with balls into the box, generating their own threat in transition.<\/p>\n
With the Eagles now set to compete in the UEFA Europa League next season, the question will now be what can Oliver Glasner do to build upon this success with his Palace side, starting with the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Oliver Glasner has managed to deliver Crystal Palace their first major trophy, having already lost two FA Cup finals in the past 25 years. Eberechi Eze’s 16th minute goal ended up being the winner as the Eagles beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 1-0. Palace held just 22% of the ball throughout the match, taking just…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3107,"featured_media":1383551,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1383549","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"\n