Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has warned his Manchester United counterpart Louis van Gaal that it will be a very different game if they meet in the FA Cup final.
The Eagles were beaten 2-0 by United on Wednesday night in a one-sided affair where only Julian Speroni’s heroics in goal kept the margin of victory down.
Both sides are now preparing for their FA Cup semi-finals, with United facing Everton on Saturday, and Palace waiting until Sunday to take their place on the centre stage against Watford.
Pardew admitted his players’ below-par performance at Old Trafford owed much to having one eye on Sunday’s game and six changes made to the regular starting 11.
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However, he also pointed out that should the sides meet in the showpiece finale on May 21, United will not have such as easy ride.
“For United, the FA Cup semi-final is a big game, but for us it is bigger,” he said.
“You could sense that on the pitch at Old Trafford, and he [van Gaal] has the luxury in terms of the depths of his squad.
“But if can get through Watford then we might be meeting United in the final, and then it will be a very different game.”
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