Crystal Palace's Yohan Cabaye admits he thought FA Cup dream had died

'Maybe the group mentality is different here' says former Newcastle midfielder

Yohan Cabaye has largely been excellent in Crystal Palace's midfield (Getty Images)

Yohan Cabaye, the midfielder who will be aiming to make Crystal Palace tick at Wembley against Manchester United on Saturday, admits he thought he would never get the chance to play in an FA Cup final.

The Frenchman had three seasons at Newcastle United from 2011 to 2014 but during that time the club won only one FA Cup tie. In fact, they have won just three in the entire Mike Ashley era, such little importance have the Magpies attached to the old pot. Their priority was always staying in the Premier League and reaping the financial rewards; and look how that’s panned out.

For Cabaye, it is one of his regrets from his time on the Toon. “At Newcastle the cup runs were very bad,” the Frenchman said. “And now I have the opportunity to play in a big game. The FA Cup semi-final was fantastic, the atmosphere was very good and yeah, I am disappointed I didn't get that opportunity with Newcastle.

Yohan Cabaye in his Newcastle days (Getty Images)

“Maybe the group mentality is different [here at Palace]. All the players now know how important the Cup is, to get a trophy. We have had a fantastic run, we have beaten four Premier League teams and now we are in the final. All the players are focussed and determined to win.

“We are excited. It is a big week. It would be the first major trophy for the club so it is a fantastic opportunity to make history.”

Cabaye left Newcastle for Paris Saint Germain in 2014 but after one season largely spent sitting on the French club’s bench he opted to rejoin his former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew in south London. Some were surprised by the move: from Paris to Palace didn’t seem a fair swap. Not so Cabaye, who admits he turned down other offers but will not reveal from whom.

We are excited. It is a big week. It would be the first major trophy for the club so it is a fantastic opportunity to make history

&#13; <p>Yohan Cabaye on the FA Cup final</p>&#13;

“The most important thing is the pitch,” Cabaye said. “The pitch tells the truth every time. My target was to enjoy my football and to be happy. Coming here, I knew Alan Pardew would give me the chance to play. I just have to be happy with this and my decision. I was at a big club but just to be on the bench is frustrating. Yeah, it was easy for me maybe to stay and win some trophies but it is not the same when you don't play. I just wanted to enjoy my football every weekend.”

The season started brightly for Palace, largely due to Cabaye’s fine form, but faltered as he did. The Frenchman admits he dipped in mid-season. “The first part was good,” he said. “I was in good form, I was fit, and the second part was more difficult. With PSG, I'd be on the bench, play a little bit, play again, stay on the bench. Here, to play every weekend, maybe from January I started to get tired, but now I'm in good shape.”

Cabaye, whose first FA Cup final memory is another Frenchman, Eric Cantona, scoring the winner 20 years ago against Liverpool for United, knows that victory will be huge for a club like Palace. “Steve Parish [the owner] wants to grow the club,” Cabaye said, “and I think to win the FA Cup will help a lot. Us players, we do everything, every day, to be fit and to play as well as we can, to help the owner, the manager as well.”