In a crushing blow to Crystal Palace and their passionate supporters, star winger Eberechi Eze has been ruled out of the highly anticipated FA Cup final against Manchester City, scheduled for May 17, 2025, at Wembley Stadium. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, who has been a talisman for the Eagles throughout their remarkable cup run, sustained a hamstring injury during a recent Premier League match, casting a dark cloud over Palace’s hopes of securing their first major trophy.
Eze’s absence is a significant setback for a Crystal Palace side that has defied expectations under manager Oliver Glasner. The England international has been in scintillating form this season, contributing seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League, alongside three crucial FA Cup goals, including a stunning strike in the 3-0 semi-final victory over Aston Villa. His flair, close control, and ability to unlock defenses have made him the heartbeat of Palace’s attack, and his absence leaves a gaping hole in the team’s creative output.
The injury occurred during Palace’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on May 11, where Eze scored twice to secure a historic league double over their rivals. However, the joy of that performance was tempered when Eze limped off in the second half, clutching his hamstring. Subsequent medical scans confirmed a grade-two tear, with recovery expected to take four to six weeks, ruling him out of the final and potentially the start of England’s upcoming international fixtures.
Glasner, speaking to the media, expressed his disappointment but remained defiant. “Ebere is a special player, and it’s a big loss, but this team is about more than one man,” he said. “We’ve shown resilience all season, and we’ll fight for him and for our fans at Wembley.” The manager now faces the daunting task of reshaping his lineup against a formidable Manchester City side, who are chasing their eighth FA Cup title. Palace, appearing in their third final, have never lifted the trophy, making Eze’s absence all the more poignant.
Eze’s journey to this point has been one of perseverance, overcoming rejection from multiple academies before rising to prominence at Queens Park Rangers and earning a move to Palace in 2020. His emotional interview with BBC Sport ahead of the final highlighted the tears of those early setbacks, making his absence from such a career-defining moment particularly cruel. Fans have taken to social media to express their heartbreak, with one supporter tweeting, “Eze’s our magic man. Gutted he won’t get to shine at Wembley. We’ll play for him.”
Tactically, Palace may turn to Ismaila Sarr or new signing Eddie Nketiah to fill the void, though neither possesses Eze’s unique blend of creativity and goal-scoring threat. The Eagles’ 3-4-3 formation, which has relied heavily on Eze’s interplay with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Sarr, will need adjustments to counter City’s relentless attack.
As Crystal Palace prepare to face the odds without their star man, the FA Cup final has lost some of its sparkle for the Eagles’ faithful. Yet, with Glasner’s leadership and the team’s underdog spirit, they will hope to channel Eze’s absence into motivation, aiming to pull off a historic upset in his honor.
