Chris Richards has a chance at history when Crystal Palace face Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final

Crystal Palace are unlikely finalists for the FA Cup, and on Saturday they get the chance to overthrow Manchester City for their first trophy since winning the English second layer in 1993-94. When they enter the season, they were seen as a dark bush team that might have an external shot at European football, but after a slow start under Oliver Glasner faded that hope until an unlikely cup run she now has on a Europe door, despite sitting the 12th in the table.

Palace can secure a Europa League location with a victory, and if they do, is a player who will be important to do that Chris Richards. Just like Palace, the American had a slow start of the season and he had to fight for his place in the XI after the recruitment brought two new centerbacks to Selhurst Park in the summer. Trevoh Chalobah was recalled from his loan to return to Chelsea reopened the place for Richards to start weekly in Glasnar’s Back Three, and he has not looked back since then.

Finding his scoring touch on set pieces with a goal and an assist in all competitions this season and the use of his pace to exchange with Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix, Richards has drastically improved this season as a player. He has always been talented, but now Richards is also starting to go to his Prime, Richards also has the competition experience to position himself in order not to be caught using his speed and skills in the air to keep himself at a distance.

Faced with Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush, Richards and the defense will let their work cut for them, but along Aston Villa, Fulham and Millwall they have shown that their preparations for tests en route. This is a talented palace side, and with players such as Ebereechi Eze who gains experience at the top level for their international parties, this will not be time when they are impressed by the occasion at Wembley. They can be underdogs opposite the city, but the side of Pep Guardiola is susceptible to unlikely defeats this season, and everything can happen in a one -off final.

Richards also gets the chance to be the newest American who wins a big trophy while playing for a Premier League team when Palace lifts the FA Cup. Although Americans have been around the Premier League over the years, the list of those to win a trophy is while this is a fairly short.

The last American to do that was Technically Zack Steffen, who appeared performances, while Manchester City won the Premier League in 2021-22, but there is a considerable track record of success for Americans in the Premier League over the years. From keepers who lead their parties to glory to a few outfielders who are sprinkled, here is how Americans are stacked in the Premier League. In particular, John Harkes won the League Cup with Sheffield on Wednesday, but they were in the Second Division when they completed the performance.

Americans to win trophies with Premier League teams

How to view the FA Cup final, opportunities

• Date: Saturday, May 17 | Time: 11.30 am and
• Location: Wembley Stadium – London
• Live stream: ESPN+
• Chances: Crystal Palace +320; Drawing +270; Manchester City -130