FA Cup final preview

Manchester United go in search of their first major trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club as they face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday,

United, who finished fifth in the Premier League and missed out on Champions League football for a second time in three years, are also looking for their first FA Cup final win since 2004. 

Crystal Palace are looking to win their first major trophy in their 111-year history, having finished 15th in the Premier League under Alan Pardew.

Pardew has only ever taken part in two FA Cup finals; once as a player with Palace when they were beaten by Manchester United in 1990, and once as a manager with West Ham in a 3-1 defeat on penalties to Liverpool in 2006.

Pardew said: “My memory of the FA Cup goes back a long time – to watching it on the sofa with my dad, babbling away. They were some of the few times I saw him get emotional.

“That was my introduction as a young child and then, of course, being involved at every level as a player and manager. It’s been a big part of my growing up as an English person, player and professional.”

Victory would also help the cause of manager Louis van Gaal, whose job security has been the subject of intense speculation, but he insists that his own interests are not as important as winning a trophy.

“I think the interests of the club are much more important, and also the interests of the fans are much more important, than the manager,” he said.

“Of course you have to set your own aims and that is one of the aims I have had, always. But it is not good to speak about my interests, it is good to speak about the interests of the club. For the club, this is very …

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