Skip to playerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
  • 4 days ago

any thought of full match? Mention us on X

Category

🥇
Sports
Transcript
00:00:00The FA Cup final brings together two clubs who've won 28 major trophies between them.
00:00:10Unfortunately for Crystal Palace fans, Manchester City have won all 28.
00:00:15Glad all over or Guardiola? We're about to find out.
00:00:20The name Cloud 5, no wonder everybody here is glad all over.
00:00:25Two historic clubs, Manchester City and my beloved Crystal Palace.
00:00:32Two legacies, we've got the North, Vida South.
00:00:37One iconic song, which is our song by the way.
00:00:50Is it though? Because we've got...
00:00:58We sing this song all together, we love it.
00:01:02It's written in the song, you'll never be blue.
00:01:07Come on City!
00:01:08That's not a nickname, it's just like part of your name.
00:01:16How many have you won?
00:01:17Yeah, fair point, fair point, but we did come close.
00:01:20Palace players, some of them in tears.
00:01:22Twice.
00:01:23Manchester United have won the FA Cup again.
00:01:26Manchester Flipping United.
00:01:28Them lot.
00:01:29Them lot.
00:01:30Third time lucky, you never know.
00:01:34You make your own luck, what about Lucky 7?
00:01:37City, Lit Fair 7, fair play to us.
00:01:40We've got to win something this season.
00:01:48Pitch perfect, Crystal Palace.
00:01:50Pep Guardiola's team has reached the final.
00:01:54It's our song, isn't it?
00:01:59It's Manchester City's 14th FA Cup final and their third in a row.
00:02:04Although they did lose here last year against Manchester United,
00:02:08who also beat Crystal Palace on the two occasions they've reached the final,
00:02:121990 and 2016.
00:02:15The last four meetings between the two teams have produced 21 goals.
00:02:19Let's hope that trend continues today.
00:02:24Good afternoon.
00:02:26We've got 14 major trophies in the studio,
00:02:29a fort, unfortunately, for Glenn Murray and Michael Richards,
00:02:32when he's won 12 of them.
00:02:34And for Manchester City fans who say it's 36,
00:02:37we've not counted the Community Shield or Super Cup,
00:02:40but you can, of course, if you so wish.
00:02:43We'll have the team news for you very shortly,
00:02:45but Wayne, looking at this game,
00:02:47ordinarily you think Manchester City's strong favourites,
00:02:50but there's a bit of a difference this year, isn't there?
00:02:52Yeah, I think over the last three or four years,
00:02:55you would have said City would be very strong favourites,
00:02:58but I think the way the season's gone for City,
00:03:00and there does seem to be a few cracks there as well,
00:03:02and they maybe haven't hit the heights which they have over the last few years.
00:03:06And Palace, certainly towards the back end of the season,
00:03:10look very strong and energetic,
00:03:12and they look like they've got fitter as the season's gone on.
00:03:15So I think it's going to be a really tight game.
00:03:17I still have City favourites,
00:03:19but it wouldn't surprise me if Palace do go and do the unthinkable.
00:03:24And if they did the unthinkable,
00:03:25what would it mean to Palace fans, do you think?
00:03:27And the club, first major trophy.
00:03:29Well, exactly that, first major trophy.
00:03:31It's seen everything, obviously.
00:03:34It'll be a place in Europe for the first time,
00:03:36qualifying for a competition, I believe,
00:03:38they were in one years ago that you applied to be in.
00:03:41But yeah, I mean, I just think everything Palace have done
00:03:45and what they've kind of, the journey they've been on,
00:03:48Glasner, the way he's brought this squad together,
00:03:50what he's got out of this squad,
00:03:52and then the community surrounding the football club.
00:03:54I think they brought a song out this week in lieu of the FA Cup final,
00:03:59and it's just swept by cup fever at the moment.
00:04:02Before I ask you about the game, Mike,
00:04:03I understand there's something you want to get off your,
00:04:06let's say, sizeable chest.
00:04:07No, I just think the build-up this week should have all been about the FA Cup.
00:04:13In terms of, they said there was going to be no Premier League games on Friday,
00:04:16there was a Premier League game yesterday, there's one tomorrow,
00:04:18there's one next week.
00:04:20And I just think the iconic FA Cup needs a little bit more
00:04:25than what we're getting at this moment in time.
00:04:27I mean, iconic competition, the oldest competition
00:04:31that we're involved in in English football.
00:04:34I just feel like it's losing its gravitas a little bit.
00:04:37We need to keep it special because it's a competition
00:04:40that we all look forward to when we're kids.
00:04:42Yeah, it's certainly special, that's for sure.
00:04:44It always will be for most of us.
00:04:46OK, the teams have just been named.
00:04:48Let's take a look.
00:04:50For Crystal Palace, Dean Henderson's only previous Wembley final
00:04:53was for Shrewsbury in a 2018 EFL Trophy defeat.
00:04:58Captain Mark Gave and Chris Richards have played
00:05:01every minute of Palace's run to the final.
00:05:04Key midfielder Adam Wharton has overcome an ankle injury
00:05:08and it's a familiar front three with Everetti Ezer
00:05:11who has five goals in four games
00:05:14and Jean-Philippe Meteta has 17 for the season.
00:05:17For Manchester City, Stevan Ortega is preferred in goal
00:05:21for the third successive FA Cup final.
00:05:24There's a reshuffle in defence as Nico O'Reilly comes in at left back.
00:05:28Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva seem to be the central midfielders
00:05:32in an incredibly looking attacking line-up.
00:05:35Omar Marmouche, Savino and Jeremy Doku all come in
00:05:39with Erling Haaland spearheading the team
00:05:42and seeking his first Wembley goal.
00:05:45Well, Wayne, I must say, looking at the Manchester City side,
00:05:48there's a lot of forward-thinking players in there.
00:05:51Yeah, I think it would have been a good game.
00:05:54Yeah, they've gone attacking and I think it's a fair play to Pep.
00:05:58You'd imagine City are going to have a lot of the ball
00:06:01so they've got their attacking players on there to try and break Palace down
00:06:05and the worry would be De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in midfield.
00:06:11They lack a little bit of legs and Palace have got...
00:06:14They've not got necessarily that defensive side to the game.
00:06:17No, they haven't and they're going for it, which I'd like to see.
00:06:20What about Palace? They'll be pleased with that starting line-up.
00:06:24No hiccups, no injuries. Big day for the captain, Mark Gaye.
00:06:27Yeah, well, massive game, yeah.
00:06:29Obviously, he could leave the club in the summer.
00:06:31It could be pivotable to him staying, actually,
00:06:34if they get into Europe next year via the FA Cup.
00:06:36Only a year left on his contract, but Palace's side,
00:06:39it's got a comfortable balance to it.
00:06:41It's what we expected, very different to the Manchester City side.
00:06:44There's a mix of experience and youth in the Manchester City team.
00:06:47One player having a breakthrough season is Nico Reilly.
00:06:50He's been impressive. Looks like he's playing full-back.
00:06:52It's not necessarily his role.
00:06:54Yeah, I think he's been excellent.
00:06:56I think his position is normally a midfielder, attacking, very technical.
00:07:00It takes information really well.
00:07:03But in terms of coming into the team playing left-back,
00:07:06you see here that he's not the normal full-back
00:07:09who wants to overlap all the time.
00:07:11He will come inside and once you come into this team,
00:07:13can you take your chance?
00:07:15I think Manchester City over the years have always given young players a chance
00:07:19and he's certainly taken it, whether it be that, inside runs,
00:07:22whether it be set pieces.
00:07:24But this is what Haaland's been missing,
00:07:26someone who's going to go down the width and get the ball in those areas.
00:07:30For someone who's just 20, with all the players and the stature of the club
00:07:34where they're at at this moment in time,
00:07:36for him to get a chance, he's really taken it.
00:07:39It's a big day for him today.
00:07:40Do we think Palace can handle the situation
00:07:42or is that perhaps the key to this game?
00:07:44Because obviously they did in the semi-final,
00:07:46they were so impressive, they now need to do it again.
00:07:48A final's a different thing, isn't it?
00:07:50Yeah, it is.
00:07:51I think there's a lot of pressure on Palace today, I think.
00:07:54To have that pressure of being the first group of players
00:07:58to win the first major trophy for the football club
00:08:00may play in their minds.
00:08:02All sorts of motivation, though, if you need one.
00:08:05As Mick has said before, the build-up to this FA Cup final,
00:08:08as in being what it normally is,
00:08:10normally it's at the end of the season
00:08:12and you've got a full week of build-up
00:08:13where players and staff around the football club
00:08:16can all feel it.
00:08:18Sometimes that emotion gets too much,
00:08:20so I think what's gone on this week
00:08:23with other games going on
00:08:25has probably helped them a little bit.
00:08:27I think it's a privilege to be able to play,
00:08:31and when I get a look at the team,
00:08:34you've got a Mateta who's comfortable scoring goals,
00:08:36Eze, someone who's represented England in the Euros,
00:08:39got to the final, so he'll be talking the score.
00:08:41I think obviously Gaye is well involved in that squad,
00:08:44so I think they will be quietly comfortable.
00:08:46I think it will have helped having the semi-final here.
00:08:48Used to the environment, used to the heat,
00:08:50used to what's going on on the day,
00:08:53but it comes with its own pressures.
00:08:55Sure does.
00:08:56Time to remind you how both teams made it to Wembley.
00:09:00If you want it, come and get it
00:09:02If you want it, come and get it
00:09:03If you want it, come and get it
00:09:05If you want it, come and get it
00:09:07And it hasn't taken Manchester City long,
00:09:09and it's five, City with eight,
00:09:12Salford with nothing to be ashamed of.
00:09:15Premier League against Ligue 1.
00:09:18Eze on the turn, oh yes!
00:09:20Excellent from Iberra, Eze.
00:09:22Palace have got the job done.
00:09:26Oh, by Wernicke!
00:09:28Just look at the scenes!
00:09:30A moment of real quality turns the tie around.
00:09:35Two clubs at opposite ends of the football pyramid
00:09:38Tussler down, Black stays down.
00:09:40Oh, and Justin Devane gets his first goal for Crystal Palace.
00:09:46Good looking corner, and it's in!
00:09:49Haaland, support from De Bruyne,
00:09:52come Taiwan.
00:09:54This will be gritty, and this will be determined.
00:09:58On a catch here, that's a lovely header,
00:10:00that is a lovely header.
00:10:02It's Crystal Palace who go through to the quarter-final.
00:10:08And Iberra, Eze!
00:10:12A cruise on the Thames for Palace.
00:10:18Two in the box for Bournemouth, and in it goes!
00:10:21Great goal for Haaland,
00:10:22Manchester City will be at Wembley again.
00:10:29Eze, brilliant!
00:10:32The Cup's final seconds for Crystal Palace.
00:10:38City have scored already.
00:10:39Rico Lewis, headed in by Guardiola.
00:10:43It is Manchester City who will have a date with the Palace.
00:10:53And we can hear now from the Crystal Palace camp,
00:10:55Kelly Summers is with Dean Henderson.
00:10:58Well Dean, it's FA Cup final day,
00:11:00the sun is shining, you're suited and booted.
00:11:02Are these the days that you dreamt of as a youngster?
00:11:05Yeah, of course, this is what you put all the hard work into.
00:11:08All the setbacks over the years, everything,
00:11:10the dedication for days like today.
00:11:12So, the boys are really looking forward to going out there.
00:11:15Give me an idea of what it's like in the dressing room,
00:11:17because City are used to being here.
00:11:19They've played in the last three FA Cup finals.
00:11:21Palace haven't been here since 2016.
00:11:23Are the players handling the atmosphere, do you feel?
00:11:26Yeah, no, as I say, the lads are really looking forward to it.
00:11:29We know what we've got to do,
00:11:31we've got to perform like we did in the semi-final.
00:11:33We've got to nullify their threats, obviously,
00:11:36and we will get moments in the game where we can try and hurt them.
00:11:39It's all about discipline today,
00:11:41not giving too much away and hopefully scoring at the other end.
00:11:45You've taken the lead in games against City
00:11:47without taking any wins in the last three matches.
00:11:50What are you going to need to do as a team today
00:11:52if you are to lift the trophy?
00:11:53I think obviously things are going to have to go our way.
00:11:55I think individual performances have got to be high.
00:11:58I think everyone's got to perform to the best
00:12:00and I think you've got to get a little bit of luck along the way
00:12:02and anything's possible.
00:12:03And a word on the fans as well,
00:12:05because everyone loves FA Cup final day,
00:12:07but the Palace fans, there's a sense that you really could do something
00:12:10because there's so much excitement around.
00:12:12Yeah, 100%, they're going to be our 12th man today.
00:12:14We know that.
00:12:15We're going to have them with an unbelievable atmosphere
00:12:18like the semis and they pushed us over the line there.
00:12:20Hopefully they can do the same today.
00:12:22Yeah, we're really looking forward to it
00:12:24and can't wait to get out and do our best for them.
00:12:27Thanks, Dean. Best of luck.
00:12:28Thanks, cheers.
00:12:30Crystal Palace are one of just four clubs to compete in two finals
00:12:34without winning the trophy,
00:12:36along with Queen's Park, Birmingham and Watford.
00:12:40Sorry, Palace fans, we're about to relive both those defeats,
00:12:43so steel yourselves.
00:12:52Fans of my generation, we've never really got over
00:12:55losing to Manchester United in the 1990 final.
00:13:00Crystal Palace, very much the underdogs,
00:13:03but who knows what to expect.
00:13:07And fans of my generation got to live through our own unique experience
00:13:10of losing to Man United in the 2016 final.
00:13:13Rewind 26 years to that previous Palace United final.
00:13:19Yeah, well, that's what football's all about, isn't it?
00:13:21Passing on trauma to a new generation.
00:13:24Step, right, step.
00:13:27If he is fit, he will cause Manchester United a few problems.
00:13:30And all the speculation beforehand about whether Ian Wright was going to be playing,
00:13:33because he was the star player at the time.
00:13:35Despite the morning speculation, I have a feeling that it was always doubtful
00:13:39that Ian Wright would start the game. He is a substitute.
00:13:42And then he came off the bench and we were 2-1 down,
00:13:45and then he scored and went away extra time.
00:13:47Now here's Wright, his first chance to show what he can do.
00:13:49And he's through. It's Wright.
00:13:51Oh, what an impact by the substitute.
00:13:54And he's scored again.
00:13:57It's Ian Wright again.
00:14:01Chance here for 3-3. No abuse.
00:14:06The FA Cup final of 1990 ends in a draw.
00:14:10Went to a replay and then...
00:14:13Manchester United have won the FA Cup.
00:14:16Palace slopped to the ground.
00:14:24Welcome to Wembley for one of the days in the sporting calendar.
00:14:292016, we went ahead, punched and scored.
00:14:32He was well-collected and brilliantly finished.
00:14:35Cardew did his little Satanic dance.
00:14:38And then Rooney ran through the squad, passed to Matta and they equalised.
00:14:41There's Matta. It's in.
00:14:44Wayne Rooney ruined the lives of tens of thousands of people.
00:14:49A kiss from Carrick, a kiss from Rooney
00:14:52and a lift of the world's greatest cult for Manchester United.
00:15:00You feeling hopeful?
00:15:01Of course I am. It's an FA Cup final.
00:15:03We're no longer playing boring defensive football that ends up with us finishing 12th.
00:15:07No, we're not.
00:15:08We're playing amazing, exciting, expansive football.
00:15:11And this year we're going to end up 12th.
00:15:14Even if you support Manchester United,
00:15:17even if you support Man City,
00:15:18you've won everything there is to win.
00:15:20You won't remember you've done this come September.
00:15:22Just let us have this.
00:15:24Let us have this.
00:15:25Please.
00:15:30Yeah, good seeing right there.
00:15:31I wonder what he's up to today.
00:15:34You're probably a bit too young to remember 1990,
00:15:37but I'm sure you've got fond memories of 2016.
00:15:41Yeah, it was obviously a special occasion
00:15:43and the first time obviously I won the FA Cup with Man United as captain as well.
00:15:48So it was a great moment.
00:15:52What about this for a run though?
00:15:53Weaving it in and out, timing, and then a little pass to the back post.
00:15:59Do you've got that feeling?
00:16:00Because I'd lost two FA Cup finals and then went punching towards
00:16:04and then Pardew done his little...
00:16:06I'll give you an answer, what was it?
00:16:08Go on, Wayne.
00:16:10Do you remember it?
00:16:11Did you spot it at the time?
00:16:12No, we didn't see it at the time.
00:16:14There you go.
00:16:15I was just thinking, not again.
00:16:17And obviously we come back and won the game.
00:16:19Do you have a little go?
00:16:21You can do it.
00:16:22He's desperate to do it.
00:16:24You dropped the lid off the cup though, didn't you?
00:16:26Yeah, I lifted it with Michael.
00:16:29So I'm blaming Michael for that.
00:16:32We dropped it right over the balcony, over the stand.
00:16:35Fantastic stuff though.
00:16:37Louis van Gaal was also sacked, not during the game,
00:16:41but I think he learnt about it just after the game, didn't he?
00:16:44Yeah, do you know what?
00:16:45It was sad because we had a party after the game in London
00:16:49and Louis was always a bubbly character and bright,
00:16:52and life of the party really.
00:16:54And then he stood there really quiet and down.
00:16:57And I remember I went over to him and said,
00:16:59are you okay?
00:17:00And he was like, I think I'm getting sacked.
00:17:03And he was like, do you know what?
00:17:04Just enjoy tonight.
00:17:05And do you know what always stuck with me?
00:17:07The next morning he got us all down for breakfast
00:17:10and gave us all our off-season plans and schedules for training
00:17:14and stuck to his job right to the end.
00:17:16So massive praise.
00:17:18But it was sad because he's just won the FA Cup
00:17:20and it left a bitter taste.
00:17:23Glenn, your memory's not so good either.
00:17:26No, it wasn't, to be honest.
00:17:28I started the first game of the season,
00:17:30the Premier League for Palace that season,
00:17:31and I got transferred out to Bournemouth.
00:17:33So I sat on the sofa and watched that final,
00:17:35a little tear in my eye.
00:17:38I was gutted, yeah.
00:17:39Because you weren't still playing or because they lost?
00:17:41Well, there was that as well, Gary.
00:17:43No, but because I had my teammates,
00:17:44I would see my teammates in the FA Cup final.
00:17:46Yeah, great stuff.
00:17:48Let's have a look at Oliver Glasner.
00:17:50He's the first Austrian to lead a team to the FA Cup final.
00:17:55Here's a quiz question.
00:17:56Who's the only Austrian player to win the FA Cup?
00:18:01Got it?
00:18:03Obviously not looked at the snapback.
00:18:05It's in there, I know it, so it's between you two.
00:18:07It's in there.
00:18:08Play for Wigan.
00:18:11That doesn't make it any easier.
00:18:13I could put them out of their misery.
00:18:15Go on, Gary, tell him.
00:18:16You don't know?
00:18:17I do know it!
00:18:19I thought you were calling strikes.
00:18:22Would you like to know more about the Crystal Palace manager?
00:18:25Raphael Honigstein has the lowdown.
00:18:27Oliver Glasner is from Riedau,
00:18:29which is a very small place in the north of Austria,
00:18:32not too far from the Czech and German borders.
00:18:35Hard to imagine that the guy from such obscure surroundings
00:18:39takes his team to Wembley.
00:18:42He started his career at Ried
00:18:44and was really effectively a one-club player.
00:18:49His career ended when he suffered a severe concussion
00:18:52in a game with SV Ried.
00:18:54Then they were travelling to an away game in Denmark.
00:18:57They thought he was going to be OK,
00:18:59but he didn't turn up for a dinner meeting
00:19:03and a teammate found him on the floor, still conscious,
00:19:06but immediately called an ambulance
00:19:08and he had emergency surgery for blood hemorrhage.
00:19:15To recover, he needed to basically learn how to speak again
00:19:19and to retrain his brain after that.
00:19:21Obviously, there was no way back for him on the pitch.
00:19:25Glasner had studied economics already
00:19:27when he was a player in an Open University course
00:19:32and he worked as an administrator at Red Bull Salzburg.
00:19:35One day, he went out jogging with Ralf Rangnick
00:19:38and they had a general chat of his ideas and plans for the future
00:19:43and he said to him,
00:19:44actually, I see myself as a coach in the long run.
00:19:47Ralf then arranged for him to be the assistant coach of Ruger Schmid
00:19:50and after doing that for a couple of years,
00:19:52he got his first coaching job at his former club SV Ried.
00:19:56He wasn't an overnight success,
00:19:58but he did enough to get another job at the bigger club,
00:20:01Lasko, he'd also been a player briefly,
00:20:03doing so well there, winning promotion.
00:20:06That was his big stepping stone towards a job in the Bundesliga
00:20:11and he arrived at Wolfsburg,
00:20:13qualified twice for European football
00:20:16and on the back of that got a job at Antwerp Frankfurt
00:20:19and in his first fantastic season,
00:20:21they won the Europa League.
00:20:29He has shown throughout his career
00:20:31that cup competitions is something that he specialises in
00:20:35and if you can win the Europa League with Frankfurt,
00:20:37then there's every reason to believe
00:20:39that you can also win the FA Cup.
00:20:41You can also win the FA Cup with Crystal Palace.
00:20:53Oliver, it looked like you enjoyed your last trip to Wembley
00:20:56with Crystal Palace,
00:20:57but this is your first taste of an FA Cup final.
00:20:59Just tell us what it's been like in the build-up and this morning.
00:21:03It was a day like more or less the same
00:21:06like before the semi-final.
00:21:08We stayed in the same hotel,
00:21:10we had the same routine,
00:21:12had a meeting, a little activation
00:21:14and then just also relaxing and starting to enjoy
00:21:17because we got a few videos from Covent Garden
00:21:20where our fans met and a big celebration
00:21:22and this is what I'm personally enjoying,
00:21:24what we're all enjoying,
00:21:26that we give our fans a great day
00:21:29and now it's to show the best performance on the pitch,
00:21:32but everybody looks quite relaxed
00:21:34and is looking forward to the game.
00:21:35There is so much excitement,
00:21:37so much anticipation from the fans and the media and everyone.
00:21:39Do you feel from your players
00:21:41that you get the sense they're ready to step up
00:21:43and handle the occasion as well?
00:21:46Yes, I have confidence in them
00:21:48because they did so well over weeks and months now
00:21:51and they know how we want to play
00:21:54and this is the most important thing,
00:21:56not now do something special or something different
00:21:59because we were winning 3-0 at Fulham in the quarter-final,
00:22:02we were winning 3-0 against Villa
00:22:04while changing a lot,
00:22:06just making one or two adjustments
00:22:08due to the City side,
00:22:10they're playing a very attacking line-up today
00:22:12and everything else is confidence and trust
00:22:15and what we're doing is confidence and trust in the team
00:22:17and this is what we want to show today.
00:22:19You mentioned City's line-up there,
00:22:21last time you played them you said post-match
00:22:23that you spoke to Pep and said
00:22:24he wouldn't be able to play that system again.
00:22:26Do you feel like you've now found the solutions
00:22:28to play against them?
00:22:30They can change their way of playing
00:22:32and change their system throughout the game
00:22:35and they played I think two times,
00:22:38they played with two wide-wingers,
00:22:40Mammouch and Erling Haaland
00:22:42against Brighton and Tottenham
00:22:44and of course we're well prepared
00:22:46because last time he played
00:22:48without the winger against us
00:22:50but what he wants is always the same,
00:22:53I think it's what Pep said
00:22:55even when they had not the best times
00:22:57in November and December,
00:22:59the only thing I can tell them
00:23:01is because I'm believing in him
00:23:03and this is what brought him, I don't know,
00:23:0530 titles or whatever.
00:23:07The way is the same,
00:23:09they're very attacking players,
00:23:11of course great one-on-one players
00:23:13with Haaland and Mammouch,
00:23:14two great strikers in the middle
00:23:16but on the other side
00:23:17when you have so many attacking players
00:23:18this also could give you opportunities in transition
00:23:21and this is what we think is one of our biggest strengths
00:23:24and when we are here efficient
00:23:25and take many right decisions
00:23:27then we will create chances
00:23:28and we will score goals.
00:23:30As always, thank you for your time.
00:23:31Best of luck.
00:23:32Thank you very much.
00:23:35Eberechi Eze scored five goals
00:23:38in Palace's last four games
00:23:40as well as winning 15,000 quid
00:23:42in an online chess tournament
00:23:44but the road to becoming a footballing grandmaster
00:23:46hasn't been straightforward.
00:23:48Glenn went to check him out.
00:23:54I enjoyed being up against it.
00:23:57I'm calling people on.
00:24:00If you don't know now,
00:24:02you'll learn eventually.
00:24:21My goodness,
00:24:23I've not been back here in years.
00:24:27Oh my gosh,
00:24:28this is where we used to play 66,
00:24:30goal to goal,
00:24:31crossbar challenge.
00:24:33We would play here,
00:24:34we'd put our clothes on the benches right there.
00:24:37Bray would be here
00:24:38learning how to dribble,
00:24:39learning how to go in and out of
00:24:41the different players that were here
00:24:42but when you're young
00:24:43you're just in love with the sport.
00:24:47Yellow Cage, Millennium,
00:24:48that's where we grew up.
00:24:51Learning how to play football
00:24:52and where the love for football came from.
00:24:56That's special man.
00:24:58Where we're from,
00:24:59it forces you to get good at football quickly
00:25:03otherwise you're in trouble
00:25:04because bigger boys are around
00:25:06so if you're not good
00:25:07then you've got to go.
00:25:10The players that we were looking up to,
00:25:12like the olders that were playing there,
00:25:14it was all about skills, nutmegs,
00:25:17getting past players, scoring.
00:25:19They taught me how to play football
00:25:22By the time he was coming here
00:25:24he was already going to academies
00:25:26and playing for,
00:25:27whether it be Fulham and Arsenal.
00:25:29So you could,
00:25:30the rare time that he was allowed
00:25:32to come after a training session,
00:25:33you could just tell that he's got something different
00:25:37from the rest of the players
00:25:38that we were kicking with.
00:25:45Ezzat School was a fabulous character.
00:25:48But also obsessed with football.
00:25:53He was on Arsenal's books
00:25:54when he was at primary school
00:25:56and all the children knew that.
00:25:59As a kid, that's all I knew.
00:26:00Arsenal was everything.
00:26:04So to play there,
00:26:05to not even understand
00:26:06what it meant to play first team football
00:26:08but just to be,
00:26:09I'd go in and I've got an Arsenal badge.
00:26:11I'm the kid that plays for Arsenal.
00:26:14During that period,
00:26:15it was amazing,
00:26:16but afterwards it became difficult
00:26:18because as a kid,
00:26:20your identity is almost wrapped up in that.
00:26:26When he was released by Arsenal,
00:26:27he ended up being very emotional.
00:26:29I think that showed the human side of him
00:26:31which is that,
00:26:32look, I really want to be here.
00:26:33They don't want me.
00:26:36That's one of the hardest battles I've had.
00:26:38Because of what Arsenal meant to me at the time,
00:26:41I got tears in my eyes.
00:26:43At the time,
00:26:44I got tears ready to pour down my face.
00:26:49But,
00:26:50all I knew was to,
00:26:51okay,
00:26:52when's the next trial?
00:26:53When's the next trial?
00:26:55After Arsenal,
00:26:56he went to Fulham for a short while,
00:26:57got released.
00:26:58Reading,
00:26:59got released.
00:27:00So when he was released by Millwall,
00:27:01I remember he got into the car.
00:27:03He was almost smiling.
00:27:04He was almost like,
00:27:05it'll be alright.
00:27:06I didn't get it this time,
00:27:07but this isn't where my story ends.
00:27:10After Millwall,
00:27:11I went on trial to Bristol.
00:27:13Didn't get in.
00:27:15To Sunderland.
00:27:16Didn't get in.
00:27:19I can remember
00:27:20lying on my bunk bed
00:27:21with my brother underneath
00:27:23and I'm just praying,
00:27:24praying, praying,
00:27:25like,
00:27:26God, please,
00:27:27just give me this,
00:27:28just give me this pro.
00:27:30That's why for me,
00:27:31QPR was so important
00:27:32because I met people that
00:27:33saw me
00:27:34and I felt that they saw me
00:27:36and understood
00:27:37what it was that I could do.
00:27:41First time Ebbs came onto our radar
00:27:43was in 2016.
00:27:45So by the time he came to us,
00:27:47he'd probably been in the system
00:27:48a good seven or eight years.
00:27:51Although he was hurt
00:27:52and really hurt
00:27:53when he got released by clubs,
00:27:56he's in the last chance saloon at QPR.
00:27:59That was a changing point
00:28:00in my career for sure.
00:28:03They helped me to understand
00:28:04that it's not about what you think
00:28:06and how you feel
00:28:07the game should be played.
00:28:08You have to respect
00:28:09the game that's in front of you.
00:28:11There is a lot of
00:28:12really skillful players
00:28:13that play in the cages
00:28:14that can't transfer it.
00:28:17And I think to be able
00:28:18to transfer that style
00:28:19into 11-a-side football
00:28:21and into professional football
00:28:22takes a big skill.
00:28:24It began to change
00:28:25my way of thinking
00:28:26and my way of
00:28:27seeing the game
00:28:28and, OK,
00:28:29it can't just be nutmegs.
00:28:30I've got to score some goals now.
00:28:31Things came together
00:28:32correctly at QPR
00:28:34marrying one side of the game
00:28:36with the thing that I
00:28:38feel and think is important.
00:28:41Eberichi Eze has signed
00:28:42for Crystal Palace
00:28:43on a four-year deal
00:28:44from QPR.
00:28:46I'm a completely different person
00:28:48compared to when I joined.
00:28:49Some of the experiences
00:28:50that I've had along the way
00:28:51have definitely shaped me,
00:28:53matured me,
00:28:54and put me in good stead
00:28:55for what's to come.
00:28:57You see the little setbacks
00:28:58he goes through
00:28:59and as a little brother
00:29:00I'm looking up like,
00:29:01if I'm in that same situation
00:29:03I don't know if I'm
00:29:04continuing on or whatever,
00:29:05so him displaying that
00:29:07for the family,
00:29:08it helps everyone
00:29:09to push on
00:29:10when you're going through
00:29:11hard times.
00:29:13He hasn't compromised
00:29:14what he knows
00:29:15to be enjoyment in football.
00:29:18He's been able to have
00:29:19that character and resilience
00:29:20to maintain his playing style.
00:29:23Me looking back,
00:29:25I can see how many
00:29:26different ways
00:29:27this could have gone,
00:29:28but young Ebers,
00:29:31he had no doubt
00:29:33of this situation.
00:29:34He had too much faith
00:29:35in God, man.
00:29:37This is not a surprise for him.
00:29:40It's easy to lose sight of
00:29:42why I'm doing what I'm doing.
00:29:43Why do I run with the ball?
00:29:44Why do I try things?
00:29:46Why am I creative?
00:29:47Why do I do things
00:29:48that maybe players
00:29:49wouldn't think to do?
00:29:51The reason is,
00:29:53it's for the people
00:29:54that are watching.
00:29:55It's what you're doing
00:29:56to people in the stands
00:29:58and how you can get people
00:29:59off their feet.
00:30:00That's what football is about
00:30:01and as long as I play,
00:30:02man, that's all I want to do.
00:30:09That's lovely.
00:30:10What a thoughtful young man.
00:30:11He's 27 now, Wayne.
00:30:13You came across him
00:30:14at Derby,
00:30:15you were just saying.
00:30:16Yeah, I played against him
00:30:18for Derby County
00:30:19and he was a bit too quick
00:30:20for me there.
00:30:23But no, I think that piece
00:30:26is a really good piece.
00:30:28Obviously, I didn't know that
00:30:29to understand the amount
00:30:30of setbacks he's had
00:30:32and how he's fought it.
00:30:33How far can he go, Wayne?
00:30:34He's a late bloomer.
00:30:36He's 27 now,
00:30:37but he's in his prime.
00:30:38I think there's going
00:30:39to be teams looking
00:30:40to try and take him
00:30:41in the summer.
00:30:42Obviously, Crystal Palace
00:30:43will hope they don't,
00:30:44but he's obviously
00:30:45broke into the England squad.
00:30:47He's been so effective
00:30:48with his performances
00:30:50and his end product
00:30:51is getting better and better.
00:30:53So, I think the sky's
00:30:54the limit with him.
00:30:56Just that bravery, isn't it?
00:30:57Bravery.
00:30:58You said in the piece there
00:30:59you try things
00:31:00that other people
00:31:01wouldn't do,
00:31:02like maybe this,
00:31:03taking on the shot.
00:31:04You obviously haven't
00:31:05done before,
00:31:06but just thinking about it
00:31:07at the time,
00:31:08whether he's...
00:31:09What I like about him,
00:31:10he always is in the right place
00:31:11at the right time.
00:31:12The timing of his run
00:31:13is fantastic.
00:31:14That's what he's improved on
00:31:15for me.
00:31:16Yes, he's got the skill.
00:31:17Yes, he can score
00:31:18from 40 yards,
00:31:20but the timing of the pass
00:31:21outside of the foot
00:31:22is just brilliant.
00:31:24It was his self-belief
00:31:25that really struck me
00:31:26when I sat down
00:31:27with him this week
00:31:28and we can see
00:31:29that consistency
00:31:30coming in his game
00:31:31without any doubt
00:31:32and we spoke about
00:31:34how he had to transfer
00:31:35that cage way
00:31:36of playing football
00:31:37onto the field
00:31:38which he found
00:31:39through his youth
00:31:41really, really difficult
00:31:43but now
00:31:44he holds it really high.
00:31:46He wants to
00:31:48entertain people
00:31:49and he believes...
00:31:51Is that easier
00:31:52at Palace
00:31:53or can you still do that
00:31:54if he does get a move
00:31:55perhaps to,
00:31:56with all due respect,
00:31:57one of the Giants?
00:31:58Yes, for me
00:31:59that's why I warm to him
00:32:00so much
00:32:01because I believe
00:32:02he's like a maverick
00:32:03and I think we've got
00:32:04less and less of those
00:32:05and they are the ones
00:32:06that do get you
00:32:07off your seat
00:32:08and entertain you
00:32:09and like you say,
00:32:10with coaches these days
00:32:11I feel as though
00:32:12there's more control
00:32:13in their play.
00:32:14I mean I suppose
00:32:15the like for like
00:32:16on the pitch today
00:32:17is Jack Grealish
00:32:18leaving Aston Villa
00:32:19where he had an
00:32:20almost free role
00:32:21to express himself
00:32:22and dictate games
00:32:23and kind of
00:32:24stamp his authority
00:32:25on games
00:32:26but
00:32:27he traded that in
00:32:28to go and play
00:32:29for Pep Guardiola
00:32:30and win trophies.
00:32:31So what do you say
00:32:32his best position
00:32:33is a number 10
00:32:34because nowadays
00:32:35a lot of people
00:32:36are playing with
00:32:37three up front
00:32:38so where does he play?
00:32:39Yes he can play
00:32:40off the left
00:32:41as we've seen
00:32:42for England as well
00:32:43but that is the
00:32:44one conundrum
00:32:45I find with Eze
00:32:46if he goes to a top
00:32:47he's not going to
00:32:48play as a number 10.
00:32:49I think he could be
00:32:50a number 10
00:32:51without any doubt
00:32:52if you give him
00:32:53that freedom
00:32:54I think he can create
00:32:55I think he can run
00:32:56beyond
00:32:57and now he's
00:32:58adding those goals
00:32:59to his game.
00:33:00Another player
00:33:01that's really stood out
00:33:02for Crystal Palace
00:33:04in terms of his
00:33:05work rate
00:33:06his stats
00:33:07are off the scale
00:33:08look at that
00:33:09distance covers
00:33:10that's third
00:33:11in the whole
00:33:12of the Premier League
00:33:13and the sprint
00:33:14but the high
00:33:15distance running
00:33:16as well
00:33:17is first
00:33:18the high speed
00:33:19so not only
00:33:20is he really fit
00:33:21but he's really fast
00:33:22as well.
00:33:23It's unusual
00:33:24to have both
00:33:25he's a fast switch
00:33:26or a slow switch.
00:33:27Exactly and that's
00:33:28what I like
00:33:29but if you look
00:33:30at the Palace set up
00:33:31in the free
00:33:32the narrow free
00:33:33but
00:33:34how he's introduced
00:33:35his game
00:33:36and developed
00:33:37his game
00:33:38has been absolutely brilliant
00:33:39the timing of his run
00:33:40is excellent
00:33:41he's a willing
00:33:42runner
00:33:43but it's the last part
00:33:44is the timing
00:33:45the way to pass
00:33:46and picking the right pass
00:33:47this was against
00:33:48Manchester City
00:33:49how many times
00:33:50have you seen
00:33:51players in this position
00:33:52straying offside
00:33:53he times his run
00:33:54to perfection
00:33:55and then
00:33:56can he finish
00:33:57of course he can
00:33:58and this is what I like more
00:33:59about the modern day football
00:34:00because Sar
00:34:01can play down the wing
00:34:02he wants to make them
00:34:03run through the middle
00:34:04almost like
00:34:05a number 9
00:34:06and then
00:34:07the awareness
00:34:08to see Mateta
00:34:09pass across
00:34:10Glasner talks a lot about
00:34:12there's ways
00:34:13that he can improve
00:34:14and I think he's talking
00:34:15about this in terms of
00:34:16when he jumps
00:34:17when he presses
00:34:18he leaves
00:34:19big gaps
00:34:20at times
00:34:21and it's hard
00:34:22because
00:34:23the only player
00:34:24who's free at the back
00:34:25so in terms of getting out
00:34:26it can be difficult
00:34:27and then the last one
00:34:28up against O'Reilly
00:34:29I've just picked this one out
00:34:30in terms of
00:34:31ball watching
00:34:32you can't do that
00:34:33at the highest level
00:34:34but in terms of
00:34:35this season
00:34:36I think he's been
00:34:37one of the best
00:34:38if not the best
00:34:39right back
00:34:40stroke wing back
00:34:41in the Premier League
00:34:42Glen how can
00:34:43Palace hurt City?
00:34:44Well they can definitely
00:34:45take heart
00:34:46from the game
00:34:47at the Etihad
00:34:48I know they lost 5-2
00:34:49and this is it
00:34:50these are some clips
00:34:51from it
00:34:52but you can see
00:34:53how compact City are
00:34:54and like Michael just said
00:34:55the full backs
00:34:56are the ones that are going
00:34:57to give them that width
00:34:58but willing runners forward
00:35:00because they will
00:35:01get that ball out
00:35:02and we see here
00:35:03forward runners
00:35:04outnumbered in the box
00:35:05and it's a relatively
00:35:06easy finish
00:35:07for Reza
00:35:08here again
00:35:09Abereche gets the ball
00:35:10and again
00:35:11City really tight
00:35:12and compact
00:35:13and this man
00:35:14is
00:35:15he needs to have
00:35:16big day today
00:35:17Wharton
00:35:18to dictate that play
00:35:19we can see him
00:35:20spraying it out
00:35:21getting to that man
00:35:22Munoz
00:35:23giving him that width
00:35:24but committing people forward
00:35:25and having the bravery
00:35:26to do that
00:35:27and really
00:35:29in all honesty
00:35:30he'll be disappointed
00:35:31with this
00:35:32but here we see
00:35:33how tight Palace are
00:35:34but what they are
00:35:35is they're primed
00:35:36to bounce
00:35:37on City
00:35:38Munoz is the one
00:35:39that wins the ball
00:35:40right away
00:35:41how quick can we get forward
00:35:42how do we support him
00:35:43to the best of our ability
00:35:44and this goal here
00:35:45once Eze gets his ball
00:35:46in this position
00:35:47this is where he purrs
00:35:48and this is where
00:35:49he can really
00:35:50affect play
00:35:51he was offside
00:35:52on that occasion
00:35:53but that would have been
00:35:543-0
00:35:55to Crystal Palace
00:35:56and I really feel
00:35:57like we can see there
00:35:58there's a vulnerability
00:35:59to Manchester City's
00:36:00play on to high turnovers
00:36:01and that is what
00:36:02Palace are experts at
00:36:03is that transition
00:36:06exactly that
00:36:07we've talked about City
00:36:08so many times
00:36:09but to see that
00:36:10goals from errors
00:36:11it's not like the City
00:36:12we're used to
00:36:13different
00:36:14Manchester City
00:36:15started the season
00:36:16as Premier League champions
00:36:17and finish it
00:36:18in a battle
00:36:19just to qualify
00:36:20for the Champions League
00:36:21in 17 years of management
00:36:23Pep Guardiola
00:36:24has only ever finished
00:36:25out of the top two
00:36:26on one occasion
00:36:27no wonder he described it
00:36:28last week
00:36:29as the toughest season
00:36:30of his career
00:36:56and I'll be blue
00:36:57and in the dark
00:36:58while you sleep
00:36:59you'll see me there
00:37:00clouds race across the sky
00:37:01close your eyes
00:37:02and don't ask why
00:37:03and I'll be blue
00:37:04and in your eyes
00:37:05and I'll be blue
00:37:06and in your eyes
00:37:07and I'll be blue
00:37:08and in your eyes
00:37:09and I'll be blue
00:37:10and in your eyes
00:37:11and I'll be blue
00:37:12and in your eyes
00:37:13and I'll be blue
00:37:14and in your eyes
00:37:15and I'll be blue
00:37:16and in your eyes
00:37:17and I'll be blue
00:37:18and in your eyes
00:37:19and I'll be blue
00:37:20and in your eyes
00:37:21and I'll be blue
00:37:22and in your eyes
00:37:23and I'll be blue
00:37:24and in your eyes
00:37:2569
00:37:261
00:37:270
00:37:280
00:37:290
00:37:300
00:37:310
00:37:320
00:37:330
00:37:342
00:37:353
00:37:364
00:37:375
00:37:386
00:37:397
00:37:409
00:37:4110
00:37:4211
00:37:4310
00:37:4410
00:37:4510
00:37:4610
00:37:4710
00:37:4810
00:37:4910
00:37:5010
00:37:5110
00:37:5210
00:37:5310
00:37:54Let me be your one light And if you'd like a true heart
00:38:04Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:38:24Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:38:54Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:39:24Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:39:54Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:40:24Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:40:54Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:41:24Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:41:54Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:42:19Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:42:49Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:43:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:43:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:44:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:44:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:45:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:45:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:46:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:46:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:47:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:47:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:48:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:48:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:49:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:49:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:50:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:50:47Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:51:17Take the time to show your mind And I'll be a brim in the dark
00:51:37I'll fight with me, fast, boldly, and proud The darkness deepens, the world will be alive
00:51:57When I'm alone and I have nothing to do You're not there, so I'll find you
00:52:17Hold on, I will speak from my lonely heart Shine through the evening, on into the skies
00:52:37When the morning comes, let it show to me If I can get what I want, I'll find it in you
00:53:08I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better
00:53:29I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:53:59I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:54:29I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:54:59I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:55:29I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:55:59I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:56:29I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:56:59I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:57:29I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:57:59I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:58:29I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:58:59I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:59:29I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better
00:59:59I'm feelin' better, I'm feelin' better I'm feelin' better

Recommended