Frank Christian
On May 17, Manchester City faced a setback, losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium.
Though they had several opportunities to score, Man City missed out on their only chance for silverware this season, leaving Pep Guardiola and his team disheartened and frustrated.
Eberechi Eze’s goal proved decisive for Crystal Palace, but goalkeeper Dean Henderson also shone in the match, making six critical saves, including a penalty stop.
However, Guardiola appeared displeased with Henderson’s conduct during the game, as a confrontation between the two occurred after the final whistle.
In a notable moment in the 26th minute, Henderson handled the ball outside the penalty area while attempting to intercept a pass intended for Erling Haaland, which denied a potential goal-scoring opportunity for Man City. Many felt Henderson should have been penalized, yet VAR sided with the keeper.
He received a yellow card in the 90+1 minute for delaying the game. In his post-match comments, the 28-year-old revealed (as reported by India Today) that he told Guardiola he believed the manager was unhappy about the time-wasting.
“I went to offer my hand, but I sensed he was frustrated with the time delays. I mentioned to him, ‘You got the 10 minutes [of injury time] you asked for.’ No hard feelings,” he stated.
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Guardiola, on the other hand, chose not to comment on the contentious VAR decision regarding Henderson after the match.
What did Pep Guardiola say?
When reporters inquired about Henderson’s lack of a booking during the first half, Guardiola declined to respond, suggesting they direct their questions to the officials.
“Don’t ask me, ask VAR and the referee,” he said.
Regarding Henderson’s time management on the field, Guardiola remarked that ‘everyone is free to do as they please.’
“He defended himself, just as we defended our approach. I can understand in the closing moments, but from the first or second minute? He’s British; you know how English football operates,” he explained.
“I apologize, but everyone can play their game. Our task is to score, and we didn’t lose due to Henderson’s delays. However, it disrupts the players’ rhythm,” Guardiola added.
This season may not be one of Guardiola’s best, but Man City is vying for a top-five finish in the Premier League to secure a Champions League spot for the upcoming year.
Guardiola’s men will next play against Bournemouth on May 20 at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City news and related links
- Kevin De Bruyne shares his perspective on Man City’s Club World Cup decision
- A list of trophies won by Pep Guardiola during his tenure as manager, including his time at Manchester City, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich
- Crystal Palace vs. Man City final outcome: Eagles surprise Guardiola to claim FA Cup after heroics from Eze and Henderson
