'I struggled to get out of bed' - Dean Henderson opens up on 'depression' after Crystal Palace FA Cup win | OneFootball

England goalkeeper suffered after Palace’s Wembley triumph - but it is a common occurrence

Dean Henderson has admitted that he struggled to get out of bed after Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win over Manchester City.

Palace lifted the first major honour in their history last May when they beat Pep Guardiola’s side 1-0 courtesy of a breakaway goal from Eberechi Eze.

FA Cup glory marked a high point in the Eagles’ 165 year history, yet for Henderson the highest of highs was met with an unexpected low as he came to terms with life after the biggest achievement in his career.

Feelings of depression after a massive career high are common and well documented, but the goalkeeper opened up to say it was not something he had ever felt the need to talk about.

“The high to the low. 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?',” Henderson said.

“I swear, I don't know whether that was alcohol or... But I actually think it was like, I felt depressed. It was mad. But I don't know why. I've never really spoken about it.”

Opening up: Dean Henderson

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Preparing for Wednesday’s Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, Henderson says the build up to a final can lead to players becoming introspective in an attempt to deal with the pressure.

“It's the emotions of it,” he continued. “Even now, you're engaged the week before. Naturally, you're thinking about it.

“Even for the last couple of weeks, you're probably thinking, let's try and win the final. It's natural. No one speaks about it. No one speaks about it to each other. It's just about your individual battles, isn't it?”

Henderson, formerly of Manchester United, was promoted to captain in January following the departure of Marc Guehi to Manchester City.

At the time, Palace’s season was in danger of imploding, with manager Oliver Glasner confirming in the same press conference that he would leave the club at the end of the season.

The Eagles have recovered superbly, though, and could lift their third trophy in 12 months if they beat Rayo Vallecano.

It has been another season of development for Henderson, who will travel with England to his first World Cup this summer, and he says it will be a point of great pride walking Palace out for their first major European final in Leipzig on Wednesday.

Leading by example: Dean Henderson

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“I think obviously this is one that will give me great pride because I think we've been through it all this season,” he said.

“I think the lads have been unbelievable in the Premier League. They've done so well to get to where we are in the league, then to keep pushing on.

“Obviously, quarter-finals with the Carabao Cup run-in every three days, people don't realise the toll it takes on them.

“I'm so proud of the lads getting themselves in this situation. To deliver something on the last day of the season would be incredible and I think it will be fully deserved.”