Just at the point when Crystal Palace’s FA Cup run was about to take off, manager Oliver Glasner offered a little insight into one of the reasons why. The Austrian was settling into the dugout before the 3-0 evisceration of Fulham at Craven Cottage, and had a moment to appreciate the atmosphere.
“This is why I love football,” Glasner enthused. Pep Guardiola would no doubt agree as he steps out onto the Wembley pitch before Saturday’s final between Palace and his Manchester City, having this week described the FA Cup as the most “beautiful domestic cup competition in the world”.