Eze’s impact earned him the man-of-the-match award, but he will surely have faced strong competition from the brilliant Wharton, who strode through midfield in style, a potent mixture of composure, creation and that priceless ability to win possession then use it well.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney is a firm admirer, telling BBC Sport: “Attacking players get a lot of the credit, but Adam Wharton was outstanding. His commitment and winning the ball back – I thought he was the best player on the pitch.”
This follows rich praise delivered by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who described him as “an excellent holding midfielder”.
Wharton’s somewhat strolling style, socks at half mast, belies a fierce competitive instinct. He was not included in Tuchel’s first full England squad as Palace nursed him back after groin surgery, but the German knows what a talent he has at his disposal.
He was included in England’s under-21s squad, but trained alongside the senior players at St George’s Park.
Wharton, it was, who robbed Villa’s Youri Tielemans to start the move that ended with Sarr scoring Palace’s crucial second. It was one of five successful tackles he made, the most of any player in the semi-final.
And so Palace go on to their third FA Cup final at Wembley, led by the charismatic Glasner and his eminently watchable team.
Can he now succeed where Coppell and Alan Pardew failed and write his name into the Crystal Palace history books?
