Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola has attributed Dean Henderson’s “time-wasting” within the 2025 FA Cup remaining partly to the goalkeeper being British – and mentioned the choice for Omar Marmoush to be given the Cityzens’ penalty of their 1-0 defeat was made between the newcomer and common taker Erling Haaland.
Henderson, who turned away Marmoush’s first-half spot kick shortly after being lucky to keep away from a crimson card for dealing with the ball outdoors his penalty space, made a string of high-quality saves earlier than showing to interact in a verbal disagreement with Guardiola after the full-time whistle in Palace’s first main trophy triumph.
“Hear, he defends his place and we defend our place,” mentioned Guardiola, who will end a season and not using a main trophy for the primary time since his first marketing campaign on the membership in 2016/17. “He’s British. I’m sorry – everybody can do what they need.
“[Players] resolve [who will take penalties] on the pitch. I didn’t converse with them. That second is [about] how they’re feeling. They noticed Omar was able to take it. I feel Omar took quite a lot of time with the ball… the goalkeeper made a great save.”
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FA Cup remaining 2025: Guardiola congratulates Palace
Haaland, who has missed three of his seven penalties in all competitions in 2024/25 together with one at Bournemouth within the quarter-finals, appeared to resolve towards taking the chance, kissing the ball and Marmoush’s head whereas handing the chance to the Egypt striker.
Whereas it was unclear whether or not Metropolis had organized earlier than the sport for Haaland to step except for duties, there gave the impression to be much less confusion over Henderson’s indiscretion when he had pawed the ball outdoors the field to cease the two-time Premier League golden boot winner from breaking via, however a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) evaluate led to no motion being taken.
“Don’t ask me in regards to the VAR or the referee [Stuart Attwell],” mentioned Guardiola. “We didn’t lose as a result of Henderson was time-wasting.
“It’s a query of rhythm. All of the followers are there to see the 22 gamers play. Whenever you see Barcelona now, they’re ‘assault, assault, assault, assault’, and the opposite crew are [too]. It’s stunning.
This change between Pep Guardiola and Dean Henderson 👀#FACup pic.twitter.com/JaXxmyGNpR
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 17, 2025
“However I perceive Henderson’s place – it’s a query for the referee. I perceive when it’s [late]. however I don’t really feel it. My crew play the sport just like the folks deserve to observe.
“Saying that, congratulations to Henderson and Crystal Palace, as a result of they defended actually, very well on the finish and have been capable of rating a aim.”
Crystal Palace vs Man Metropolis
In an action-packed remaining, Metropolis – the dominant crew in English soccer between 2017 and 2024, coming into their third straight FA Cup remaining – started with an abundance of possession and pictures on aim, Haaland among the many gamers denied by wonderful Henderson saves.
Palace spent a lot of the sport below strain however scored with their first significant assault when Eberechi Eze fired in first time from contained in the field within the sixteenth minute, assembly Daniel Munoz’s cross with a fierce right-footed end past Ederson for his sixth aim in 5 appearances.
Guardiola used Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva as his holding midfielders as a result of Mateo Kovacic “didn’t really feel good” and mentioned Metropolis had “performed a lot, a lot better” than they did of their 5-2 house win over Palace within the Premier League final month and their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in final 12 months’s remaining.
SAVED BY HENDERSON 🚫
Omar Marmoush misses from the spot ❌#FACup pic.twitter.com/PfvBowkW6V
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 17, 2025
“We didn’t undergo proper defensively,” he added. “We couldn’t discover [De Bruyne] within the positions we wished. The sport plan didn’t work as a result of we didn’t win.
“Towards Southampton [in a 0-0 draw last Saturday], I had a foul, unhealthy feeling, however at this time I didn’t.
“In fact we’re unhappy… with the anthem, stadium and crowds, it’s a lovely, pretty day.”
2025 FA Cup remaining: Man Metropolis ‘had the probabilities’
Metropolis completed with greater than 78% of possession, six of the eight makes an attempt on track between the groups and 23 of the 30 efforts in all, though Palace may need scored a second when Munoz’s second-half aim was dominated out as a result of Ismaila Sarr was offside.
There was a way of desperation to the introduction of 19-year-old debutant Claudio Echeverri instead of Marmoush 14 minutes from time, though the Argentina youth worldwide was considered one of a number of gamers to have pictures blocked contained in the field in the course of the closing phases.
“My inspiration,” Guardiola smiled when he was requested in regards to the shock introduction of Echeveri. “I’m a proficient supervisor.
“I need to be trustworthy, it was not a foul determination with the best way he performed and the probabilities he had. He had three possibilities in small areas.
“I noticed him in coaching periods. He’s transferring actually, very well in small areas and is basically inventive in that. You need to discover one thing in a lot of these video games, dribbling and discovering one-twos.
“Crystal Palace love [defending] crosses. He’s usually so intelligent and exact. We had the probabilities, however sadly we couldn’t rating.”