Crystal Palace

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

We asked our Crystal Palace fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.

Jean-Philippe Mateta

The goals, the trademark celebration, the injury and the protective headgear - Mateta has been iconic for many reasons. This season has underlined why he is Palace's top goalscorer, as he has matured into one of the Premier League's leading forwards.

Daniel Munoz

Crystal Palace's marathon man, tirelessly covering the length of the right flank from wing-back. No player makes this formation function more than Munoz. A two-way player, he is not only the leading tackler but the fourth highest scorer in all competitions, with an FA Cup final assist.

Dean Henderson

The modern goalkeeper may often receive more attention for their distribution than their shot-stopping, which makes Henderson one for the goalkeeping purists. There will be moments where his defiance genuinely earns the team points and results, as he did on the biggest stage at Wembley.

Eberechi Eze

Now etched into history, Eze has exploded into goalscoring form at the business end of the season. He has topped 20 combined goals and assists for the first time since ing from QPR, including three match-deciding goals in the FA Cup quarter-final, semi and final.

Honourable mentions

In some seasons, the struggle has been finding a compelling top four players to make this list. This year's challenge was trimming the longlist down. So honourable mentions for Marc Guehi, Will Hughes, Ismaila Sarr and Maxence Lacroix for narrowly missing the cut.

Pick your 2024-25 Crystal Palace player of the season from our shortlist here

And tell us why you're picking who you are, or why you'd have gone for another player not on the list, here

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You can't always plan for scenarios like winning the FA Cup moments that change the history and direction of the football club.

Crystal Palace did enough to win the final and now they are in Europe as a consequence.

Some things may need to be looked at over the summer because of the extra round of fixtures they will have next season. Size of their squad is one thing I am sure they are going to look at to help ease the load.

They might be able to recruit a different type of player this summer because they will be in Europe, but even then that player has to fit the club and its identity.

The final showed the effort that needs to be put in by an individual to perform in that Palace team.

There are also player expectations that need to be managed. I am sure they will be realistic when it comes to Europe because they have shown to be realistic in their approach to the Premier League for a long time.

Oliver Glasner's players perform the way he wants them to and they fit perfectly into his system and ideas as a manager, so I don't really have any worries for them.

They will take it in their stride because they are a good football club with a very good manager at the helm.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Wolves at Selhurst Park.

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Al: A great night and a sad one. Great to get record points and Eddie Nketiah netting two goals. Romain Esse looks dangerous. Tears around the ground when Wardy went off in a final goodbye. He was so emotional. Just the champions to beat next at their home. We'll try to get 10th place and then next season begins at Wembley again.

Englebert: Great performance from the lads that didn't play in the final. Nketiah showing how good a striker he is, with great movement and finishing. Esse with a Zaha-esque run to set up the first goal. Franca and Devenny came on and impressed. Eze scored a simply class goal.

Phil: I feel sorry for Nketiah. Hopefully he will get more of a look-in next season. He is decent.

Rob: Party atmosphere from the first to the last minute continued from Saturday's FA Cup win. Great to see Wardy lead the team out for one last time under the lights at Selhurst Park, with an emotional speech at the end. It brings an amazing career and historic season to an end. A team of Joel Wards.

Mini: What fabulous momentum to end the season with. Here's hoping our stars stick with Palace, especially as we head into Europe.

Wolves fans

Scott: Poor and absolutely shocking. This was not a good performance. Give new players a chance for sure, but we didn't have any players who were good except for Strand Larsen. I'm not happy with the full-time scoreline. A poor performance on the pitch.

Kieran: What has happened? We clearly got complacent after the six-game run. We need to win on the final day and then move on from this inconsistent season.

Richard: Wolves had a long rest before this match but were out-fought and out-thought. I was surprised at Palace's intensity after their massive FA Cup win - they dominated in tackles and challenges. They were a level above. Wolves' defence parted in a way that I hadn't seen since Gary O'Neil's management. A shocking performance.

Mark: Typical end of season results. We are safe so the last few games are treated as warm downs or practice matches. End of season performances don't always translate into how the next season will go but we have been mostly poor over the past three or four seasons, twice having to change manager to avoid the drop. I hope it's not third time unlucky next season.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward, who is leaving the club after 13 years, says he "couldn't have written a better ending" to his time at Selhurst Park, following their 4-2 win over Wolves.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Ward said: "What a way to sign off. I couldn't have written a better story and a better ending. I feel honoured and incredibly blessed to have had this time at Palace and I look forward to the next challenge in front of me.

"There is belief in that changing room and I'm sure these lads will take this club forward. What an exciting period of time. I've been part of this club for so long and I will be following these guys next season. This is a fairy tale ending for me.

"It means the world. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the family, they ed me and they made the sacrifices in the early years. All the players and managers over the years have helped me continue the journey.

"The manager [Oliver Glasner] demands a lot from us and then it is up to us to fulfil our potential. He knows us inside and out. To bring home a major trophy and take this club into Europe, he deserves all the plaudits he gets.

"I still have the desire to play - going across the line tonight made me realise how much I love this game, so there's no chance I will be hanging them [his boots] up."

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about his side's winning performance against Wolves: "We spoke about it before and we didn't know what we would see or what we would get, so credit to the players. We had a great energy on the pitch and that is not easy after such a huge achievement [winning the FA Cup].

"This is an outstanding and incredible group - and they showed it again. We trust every single one of these players and everyone has contributed to the success [this season].

"It was a fantastic atmosphere. Everybody shouted my name, I didn't know what they wanted but someone said I should wave with my hands. It was an amazing experience and a great game. We always want everyone to have a great time at Selhurst Park and make sure that they are happy."

On getting the highest Premier League points total for the club: "This is the consequence of what we are talking about. We have to always keep our standards high, not be satisfied and take the next step. That's what this group is trying to do.

"There were many things that were not perfect but what we demand is the effort and that everyone does their job. It's great that we could raise our personal standards and that's what makes me proud."

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah has been speaking to Premier League Productions following the win over Wolves: "We are buzzing. We are happy. It is a massive day for us. Our manager was keen to keep it going and keep the celebrations going. Everyone was firing and we got the win.

"The unity between the fans and the players is amazing. It is a good place to develop and it will be amazing to have European nights here."

On reaching 50 career goals: "It is nice to reach that landmark. I know I can do much better and help the team. It's a nice way to end the last home game and I want to contribute more next season."

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace have recorded 22 wins in all competitions this season, only winning more games in a single campaign as a top-flight side in 1990-91 (28).

Oliver Glasner has now taken charge of 50 Premier League games as Crystal Palace manager (W20 D16 L14), collecting more points (76) than any other manager in their first 50 top-flight league games in charge of the club.

Eberechi Eze's 16 Premier League goal involvements this season (8 goals, 8 assists) is his most in a single campaign. He has also scored in four successive matches in the competition, with only Neil Shipperley in December 1997 having a longer scoring run for the Eagles in the Premier League (5 games).

Ben Chilwell's goal was his first in the Premier League since March 2023, for Chelsea against Leicester City, and Crystal Palace's first direct free-kick goal in the competition since March 2024 (Eberechi Eze against Tottenham).

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

Eddie Nketiah has struggled to live up to his £30m price tag since ing Crystal Palace from Arsenal last August, but his two goals against Wolves showed the type of finishing he is capable of.

Having scored just one Premier League goal for the Eagles all season., he grabbed two very-well taken goals on Tuesday night.

His first was a clinical finish into the far corner before he showed good anticipation to meet a square ball across goal for his second.

There was celebratory atmosphere around Selhurst Park with this game coming just days after Palace's historic FA Cup win after beating Manchester City in Saturday's final.

But Nketiah will be celebrating this performance and result as he looks to kick on next term and find the back of the net more regularly.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

There are two Premier League matches being played this evening, and you can follow every kick on BBC Sport.

• Crystal Palace v Wolves

• Man City v Bournemouth

Both kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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If you could dream of a perfect ending to a 13-year stint at a club, it would probably involve ending ending a 164-year wait for major silverware.

And that dream became reality for Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward when the Eagles beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup on Saturday.

"There was a quiet belief from my side but there was definitely belief from the team and club that we could do it," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "Some of my close friends had said that the writing was on the wall, but I didn't want to get too carried away.

"It was there for the taking and I am so proud of the group as they have created history for this club.

"I had a really calm experience [watching from the bench] and more so in the second-half. Towards the end I had a real sense of peace which is probably quite strange because at the beginning of the game I was full of adrenaline and my knees were going and I was shaking.

"But it seemed everything was going in the right way and on our side. There was a bigger hand in play for sure.

"Every single player put their body on the line. They blocked, they tackled, they worked effortlessly from start to finish.

"When you roll the game back, I think we fully deserved to walk away with that FA Cup."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

So, what's next? We've collectively taken a breath, and it is uncharted territory for Crystal Palace, headed into a season of European football for the first time.

Winning the FA Cup has sent the club down one of two wildly divergent paths – one where the hope of retaining players may have dramatically increased, who would almost certainly have been leaving without the carrot of the Europa League.

Topping the list of question marks on the pitch is captain Marc Guehi, with a year to run on his contract, and several would-be suitors. Despite playing for a mid-table team, Guehi already has England recognition, but the sense is that he is waiting for the right move, and Palace will be seeking a record fee for him to leave this summer, if the past two windows have taught us anything.

The stock price of Eberechi Eze is also at an all-time high. He has delivered on a grand stage and is entering his prime years. Again, Palace's valuation and his suspected release clause are at the high-water mark for players in his position. He turns 27 in June, with two years left on his deal.

Off the pitch, Oliver Glasner is the mastermind of the season. The club will seek to extend his contract beyond the following season. His system and its implementation have been a revelation for the club. We have a clear picture of what an 'Oliver Glasner' player looks like, and Palace will be recruiting on that basis.

Recruitment is therefore the key phase, and despite the emotional comedown from the weekend, Palace will need to be at work immediately. The team is set to play at least 49 matches next season, one more than this, even with two late cup runs. The squad will need greater depth than ever before, but hopefully, while retaining the key figures from Saturday.

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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This is the time of the season when celebration, heartache and poignancy each hang around football grounds, like a warm misty haze. Just watch any of the play-off finals if you want to see the highest of highs and the lowest of lows from players and ers alike.

I am still reeling at the enormity of Crystal Palace outwitting the mighty Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The size of the upset is impressive, but the spectacle from the Palace fans equalled it.

Fans of clubs who are used to winning things can still put on a show, but to keep that singing, bouncing and dancing going for the entire match was a thing of beauty as well as a fitness test. Going ahead after 16 minutes helped the energy levels, but the 'Spirit of Selhurst' in the sunshine drenching Wembley for the entire day was spectacular.

City were unlucky. The brilliant Dean Henderson was man of the match but shouldn't have been on the pitch after handling outside his area. On what planet does Erling Haaland not have a clear goal scoring opportunity?

Omar Marmoush had his penalty saved, but then I wouldn't have given a penalty in those circumstances anyway. Yes there was , but Silva initiated it by collapsing into the defender before the tackle, so I was delighted by Henderson's excellent save.

The true highlight in the widest sense was that in a season when the underdogs have barked loudly throughout, they showed there was a serious bite. Congratulations to the Eagles, you have kept the dreams of all other smaller clubs and their ers alive.

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Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward says Oliver Glasner has "installed an air of confidence" around the team and has "taken this club to new heights".

Despite a rocky start to this season, securing only three points from their first eight games, Glasner never lost faith in himself or his players.

He believed there were genuine reasons for Palace's slow start after finishing the previous campaign with 19 points out of a possible 21.

"There are a lot of players in this group that want to win and achieve great things so they have that mentality," said Ward on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "But our manager had also installed an air of confidence around it and given us the belief to go on and make history for the club.

"What we did at the weekend was incredible, but it is not something we haven't done before this season in of principles and the way we play.

"We knew we had to tweak a few little things but the game plan worked perfectly.

"This will go down in history."

Ward continued: "It has been around 15 months since the manager came in and he has drilled it into us [about defending] and he demands a lot from us on a daily basis.

"We had to be very disciplined and very patient and thankfully it paid off.

"He has really set the tone for the club and us players. He has given us so much and he has taken this club to new heights. He has taken us to Europe for the first time after winning a major trophy for the first time.

"It comes down to his drive and ion and way of doing things."

Listen to Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

The Crystal Palace fans won't really care what the result is here, because they won the game that really mattered at Wembley at the weekend, and they have a trophy to show for it.

So, there will definitely be a party in the stands at Selhurst Park after Palace's FA Cup success, but it is hard to know what to expect from the Eagles players after their own celebrations.

I am not really sure what shape Wolves will be in either, though. They were on a superb run of form until the start of May, but have lost their past two games.

It is Palace who will have all the momentum and Eberechi Eze is flying at the moment so I am going to back them here, but the outcome really depends on whether their manager Oliver Glasner makes a lot of changes.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Make your own prediction here, external

"I have had the biggest week of my life," said Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

Because a bit like London buses - it has all happened at once for Ward.

Following the announcement of his departure this summer after 13 years at the club, his daughter was born on Thursday, he lifted the FA Cup on Saturday and he will play his final game at Selhurst Park on Tuesday.

"It's been an emotionally draining weekend," he smiled. "I have had the biggest week of my life.

"It is a week to , that is for sure!

"The final was an incredibly humbling and emotion-filled day. To lift that trophy after starting my career lifting the play-off trophy at Palace could probably not have been written better.

"A special, special day and a moment I will never forget.

"The atmosphere that will be at Selhurst Park [tonight] will be like no other. There will be a buzz around the place because everyone is still on cloud nine."

Watch Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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Crystal Palace are on 49 points in the Premier League, so by avoiding defeat by Wolves at Selhurst Park they will reach 50 in a top-flight season for the first time since 1991-92 (57).

A victory would take them to 52 points, which would be the most gained by a Premier League side after failing to win any of their first eight games of a campaign.

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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner does not feel he has made a "legacy" at the club yet, despite their FA Cup final victory.

The Austrian guided the team to a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday - securing the club a first major trophy in their 120-year professional history.

Despite the achievement, Glasner has been playing down his status in the Palace history books.

"It's just two days ago we were winning it and, all of a sudden, a legacy? No, it's a great achievement. But it's still a little bit unreal. It's also enjoying that moment, but on the other side, having a game tomorrow, we're within these feelings," said Glasner.

"I don't know, I don't feel it's a legacy. I'm just part of an amazing group and we achieved everything together, so I don't think that it's a legacy.

"We're all defined by our character - everyone. The players as well, of course, every one of us has different talents. These people, they have a great talent, they can play football quite well.

"But, we are defined not by what we are doing, we are defined by our character. This is what they are - they are outstanding. I mention it so often and this is what they showed. The togetherness, always ing the group, always having the team on the top.

"Everybody puts his ego into the group, into the team, and I think this is what this group is defined by - the great characters of every single player."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Wolves at Selhurst Park (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Glasner confirmed Adam Wharton will miss both remaining games after suffering concussion in the FA Cup final, but Marc Guehi, who also went to hospital after the match, is a possibility for Sunday's game at Liverpool.

• The Eagles boss said it had been "great feelings, great emotions, great times" following Saturday's FA Cup triumph, but on the difficulty of turning attention back to Premier League games, he added: "I don't know to be honest. We cancelled Sunday's training. I'm not sure how they will present today. Of course, we have to find the right motivation, the right commitment - all together - how we want to start this week and how we want to end this week."

• On if players will still be hungry for these final matches: "We will try to find the right motivation. A few weeks ago everyone was talking about the semi-final and final. I said if they achieved a new points record then they will get two days off. They asked for it after the final but I said no - after one more point."

• He added: "This is the biggest achievement. A lot of tension drops. But they are human beings with emotions and sometimes it is not as easy to get the turnaround in a few days. That's why I was fighting for the Wolves game to be on Thursday not Tuesday, but sometimes you shout into the wind with these things."

• Glasner is expecting a "great atmosphere" at their final home game of the campaign: "Many fans are still celebrating and it's what they deserve. We will go for a good end of the season at home."

• On what he was feeling in the moment he took after the final whistle blew: "'Wow, we did it.' I couldn't believe it, that we won the FA Cup. It was a great atmosphere, a great traditional stadium, and credit to the FA how they celebrate this final. I had many, many family there who enjoyed and they said it was great being part of it. This is what I felt - just being proud, of every player and staff involved."

• Having previously said he would retire the lucky black jumper he had been wearing if they beat Manchester City, he confirmed "It is already in the washing machine, but its job is done. You won't see it any more. It now goes back in the drawer... It won't be used for football any more, it is now my leisure time jumper."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news and reaction