Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has imposed a ban on all discussion of the upcoming FA Cup final, instead urging his squad to concentrate on setting a new Premier League points record before the season concludes. The Eagles are set to face Manchester City at Wembley on 17 May, as they bid to win their first major trophy in club history.

However, prior to that historic clash, Palace must navigate two key Premier League fixtures—beginning with Monday night’s encounter against Nottingham Forest. Victories in both remaining league matches would see the South London side achieve their highest-ever points total and potentially secure their best-ever finish in the Premier League.

Following their emphatic 3-0 win over Aston Villa in the semi-final, Glasner granted his players four days off before regrouping at their Beckenham training base.

“We spoke for 30 seconds about the final and Manchester City, and then I told them: ‘We’re not speaking about City or the final again until the Monday after the Tottenham match,’” said the Austrian boss. “They can’t be stuck in this tunnel, thinking only about City for two weeks. The players need to maintain the right mix of focus and freedom.

“The best preparation we can have for the final is to produce two strong performances—against Forest and Tottenham. That will give us confidence and ensure we’re ready.

“That was the message before the semi-final, and it worked. Now, it’s the same again.

“To be honest, I’ve already put the semi-final behind me. It was a wonderful day and an unforgettable experience, but it’s done. Everyone’s in good spirits now, and we always say that the more we win, the better life becomes—especially with performances like that. But talking about the final now makes no sense. Our focus is firmly on Nottingham Forest, and we want to win at home.”

Palace currently sit 11th in the table on 45 points, with a slim but real chance of European qualification via the league. The club’s best Premier League points total to date was 49, achieved in the 2018/19 season, while they finished 10th with 48 points in 2014/15.

“Our clear objective is to surpass that record,” Glasner continued. “That means we need at least five more points from our final four matches. The ideal scenario is to take three against Nottingham Forest and three against Tottenham. If we manage that, the first target is reached—and then we can switch our focus fully to the FA Cup final.”

Glasner also reflected on past lessons learned during his time with Eintracht Frankfurt, when the German side won the 2022 Europa League but failed to win any of their final eight Bundesliga matches, ultimately finishing 11th.

“It’s vital to strike the right balance. At Frankfurt, we couldn’t flip the emotional switch after winning the Europa League. That affected our league form. This time, we want to stay sharp in both competitions.”