Colombian duo Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma were over the moon after helping Crystal Palace secure their first major silverware. The Eagles clinched a 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Wembley to claim the FA Cup on Saturday, much to the delight of the players.
“We really fought hard for this, and it’s not like we beat just any team – we took down the giants, Manchester City, a team that has won it all,” said the fiery wing-back Munoz in an interview with TNT Sports Mexico. “It feels even sweeter. It brings more happiness and joy. The work we put in was exceptional. We made our mark in the history books, and now we need to keep pushing for what’s next.
“Big shoutout to all the amazing fans; they truly deserved this more than anyone. They stood by us, believed in us. And to our teammates, who fought and battled it out – whether they were starters, substitutes, or on the bench. This is a team effort. It’s more than just a team; it’s a beautiful family.
“This is the payoff for our humble, transparent work and our day-to-day grind.” Munoz got emotional and shed tears during the interview, where he dedicated his man of the match award to the entire team. “I think this award should be in the name of ‘Crystal Palace’ because all of us were standout players. If one small piece didn’t work, we wouldn’t have had this exceptional performance,” expressed the 28-year-old. “It makes me happy, uplifted, but it’s more than just an award because every single one of us deserves it, whether they played or not. I’m really thrilled.”
Munoz and Lerma made history as the second and third Colombian players to grace an FA Cup final, following Luis Diaz, who secured the title with Liverpool in 2022. The first Colombian to be part of an FA Cup-winning squad was Arsenal’s David Ospina, who was an unused substitute for Arsenal in 2015. Munoz joined Crystal Palace from Belgium in the January 2024 transfer window, while Lerma became the first Colombian to don the Palace shirt after his move in the summer of 2023. As national teammates, the duo have quickly won over the fans and feel right at home in South London, with their names now etched in the club’s history.
“For us, this all began as a dream, and now it’s a reality – it fills us with pride. Croydon is like Colombia,” Lerma remarked. “We want to congratulate every single member of this team, the fans, the staff, the coaches – the list goes on. We need to savor this moment to the fullest. God has blessed us and given us the chance to leave our mark in the annals of Palace. We’ve taken it to a whole new level.”
With gratitude to Santiago Menichelli for the translation. (PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD)
