Yohan Cabaye believes he made the right decision when he opted for first-team football at Crystal Palace, rather than staying at Paris Saint-Germain.
The France international spent 18 months with the Ligue 1 champions, and reflects on his spell at PSG as a "frustrating period" in his career, where he was limited to just 22 starts.
"For me the most important thing is the pitch. My target was to enjoy my football and to be happy," the 30-year-old said.
"I was at a big club but just to be on the bench for me is frustrating. Yeah, it was easy for me maybe to stay and win some trophies. It is not the same when you don't play."
Cabaye has played an integral role since joining the Eagles in July 2015, scoring six goals in 39 games in all competitions this season.
By reaching the FA Cup final, Cabaye has been part of a team which has had to battle past Tottenham, Watford and Southampton to reach the final of England's oldest cup competition.
Palace, who finished 15th in the Premier League, will take on Manchester United in Saturday's final, and the importance of silverware has not been lost on Cabaye.
"Maybe the group mentality is different. Yes, all the players now know how important the cup is, to get a trophy," he added.
"We have had a fantastic run, we have beaten four Premier League teams, and now we are in the final. All the players are focused and determined."