Henderson opens up on post-FA Cup depression ahead of Conference League final

Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson has spoken candidly about the mental struggles he experienced in the aftermath of the club’s FA Cup victory, admitting he felt depressed for days after lifting the trophy at Wembley last May.

Speaking ahead of Palace’s Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Henderson said the comedown hit him harder than he expected. “I remember after the FA Cup final, three days after, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I was like, ‘What has gone on here?’” the goalkeeper said. “I actually felt depressed, it was mad. I don’t know why but I’ve never really spoken about it.”

Henderson attributed the feeling to the emotional weight of the journey rather than the result itself. “I think it’s because of the effort that you put into it, the journey that you do, the fact that you’ve all done it together. It’s the emotions of it,” he said. “No one speaks about it to each other because it’s just about winning your individual battles, isn’t it?”

This time around, Henderson says the prospect of a first World Cup with England and Europa League qualification for next season give him enough to look forward to that he is not dwelling on the aftermath. His focus is squarely on adding a second major trophy in as many seasons.

The road to Leipzig has been far from straightforward for Palace. Thirteen days after lifting the Community Shield last August, the club lost FA Cup final hero Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, while Marc Guehi came close to joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day before eventually departing for Manchester City in January. Manager Oliver Glasner has also confirmed he will step down at the end of the season.

On the pitch, Palace set a club-record 19-match unbeaten run in October, but a 13-game winless streak and an FA Cup third-round exit at National League North side Macclesfield — as holders — tested the squad’s resilience. Henderson is adamant that critics who view the Premier League campaign as a disappointment are missing the bigger picture.

“In my opinion, it’s people who don’t really have a clue about the impact this has all had on the players,” he said. “Our first season in Europe, small squad. It was difficult times but we’ve been good. It’s been an unbelievable Premier League season.”

Henderson has been widely credited as the dressing room’s anchor through a turbulent year, and the England international is now one game away from becoming the first Palace captain to lift two major trophies in consecutive seasons.