Wilfried Zaha labels former side Man United 'just another team' as Crystal Palace book FA Cup Final berth

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James Benge24 April 2016

Wilfried Zaha is not concerned at the prospect of a reunion with former side Manchester United after helping to inspire Crystal Palace to their first FA Cup Final in 26 years.

The 23-year-old spent a frustrating year at Old Trafford from 2013 after departing Crystal Palace for £10million. Having been identified as one of the building blocks of a future United side by Sir Alex Ferguson he was frozen out by new manager David Moyes and was loaned to Cardiff after just six months of football with his new side.

Zaha has been reenergised since returning to Palace, initially on loan, in the summer of 2014 and enjoyed one of his most successful days in his second spell at the club on Sunday, excelling in his side’s 2-1 victory over Watford.

Yannick Bolasie and Connor Wickham got the goals for Palace but Zaha’s direct running was equally impressive in a Palace win that sets up a repeat of the 1990 final, which Manchester United won on a replay.

For Zaha the global audience of English football’s showpiece event offers an opportunity to remind his former club what they let go but the winger insists he is only focused on what victory would mean for Palace.

“It was hard,” he told BBC Sport. “We had some of our main players out. I just wanted to give my all.

“Manchester United, personally it's just another game for me. I know it's an FA Cup final but what I mean is Manchester United are just another team now for me. I just want to win it for Palace.”

In Pictures: Crystal Palace vs Watford

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Palace’s progress to the FA Cup Final came at the cost of their league form, with just one win in the top flight since January.

Alan Pardew had admitted that his side had, prior to a draw with West Ham earlier this month, allowed their focus to slip from their league form to a cup run but Zaha was delighted to see reward for their pain outside of the knockout competition.

He added: “I'm buzzing. We said before that we can't get this far and not make it, that was the plan to get there and we're happy.”

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