Chris Richards and Crystal Palace Chase FA Cup Glory Against Manchester City

Crystal Palace finds themselves in the FA Cup final, an unexpected journey that gives them a chance on Saturday to overcome Manchester City and claim their first major trophy since winning the English second tier in 1993-94. Entering the season, they were viewed as a potential dark horse team with an outside chance at European football. However, after a slow start under manager Oliver Glasner, those hopes faded until an improbable cup run put a European spot back within reach, despite their 12th position in the league standings.

A victory would secure a Europa League berth for Palace, and a crucial player in achieving this will be Chris Richards. Similar to the team`s trajectory, the American defender had a challenging start to the season, having to fight for his place in the starting lineup following the recruitment of two new center-backs over the summer. The recall of Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell back to Chelsea subsequently reopened a consistent starting spot for Richards in Glasner`s three-man defense, and he has solidified his position ever since.

Richards has shown significant improvement this season, adding an offensive dimension to his game with a goal and an assist from set pieces across all competitions. He effectively utilizes his speed to cover ground and interchange with teammates like Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix. While always possessing talent, Richards is now entering his prime and benefiting from valuable match experience, which helps him position himself smartly to avoid being caught out and leverage his speed and aerial ability to manage opposing attackers.

Facing potent forwards like Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush means Richards and the Palace defense will have a demanding task ahead. Nevertheless, their progression through the earlier rounds, overcoming teams like Aston Villa, Fulham, and Millwall, demonstrates their readiness for difficult tests. This is a capable Crystal Palace side, and with players such as Eberechi Eze gaining experience on the international stage, they are unlikely to be overawed by the occasion at Wembley Stadium. Although they are underdogs facing City, Pep Guardiola`s team has shown vulnerability to unexpected defeats this season, proving that in the unpredictable environment of a one-off final, anything can happen.

For Richards, the match also represents an opportunity to become the latest American player to win a major trophy while competing for a Premier League club. While numerous Americans have played in the Premier League over the years, the list of those who have lifted a major trophy during their time there is relatively short.

Technically, Zack Steffen was the most recent, making appearances as Manchester City won the Premier League titles in 2020-21 and 2021-22. However, there`s a notable history of success for Americans in the Premier League, ranging from goalkeepers who were instrumental in their teams` triumphs to a few outfield players. It`s worth mentioning that John Harkes did win the League Cup with Sheffield Wednesday, but the club was competing in the second division when they achieved that feat.

Americans to Win Trophies with Premier League Teams