Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was left surprised when Erling Haaland didn’t take a penalty during their recent match. The star striker’s silence and sudden decision puzzled fans and the coach alike, sparking questions about what really happened.
Palace Make History with FA Cup Win Over Manchester City
Manchester City were hoping to end their season with the FA Cup trophy after missing out on other titles. But in a stunning twist, Crystal Palace beat City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday to win their first-ever major trophy. It was a big moment for Palace and a huge disappointment for Pep Guardiola’s team.
Early Goal Gives Palace the Lead
The winning goal came early in the match. In the 16th minute, Eberechi Eze scored for Palace at the famous Wembley Stadium. His sharp and confident finish gave the underdogs a surprising lead against the defending champions.
City had a chance to come back into the match when Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell fouled Bernardo Silva in the penalty area. The referee awarded City a penalty – a golden opportunity to equalize. Everyone, including coach Pep Guardiola, expected Erling Haaland to step up and take the shot. But something unusual happened.
Haaland Doesn’t Take the Penalty – Why?
To everyone’s surprise, Haaland didn’t take the penalty. Instead, Omar Marmoush stepped forward. His shot was saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, keeping Palace’s lead safe.
After the game, Guardiola was asked in a press conference why Haaland didn’t take the penalty. His answer shocked reporters even more:
“They decided on the pitch. I don’t know. I thought Haaland would take it. These things depend on the players’ feelings.”
Guardiola explained that he hadn’t spoken to the players about who would take the penalty, and it seemed that Haaland didn’t feel confident in that moment.
“At that moment, it’s about emotion. They thought Omar was ready to take it. Henderson made a good save,” Guardiola added.
Reactions from Football Experts
Football legend Wayne Rooney, speaking on BBC, was also surprised.
“Strikers don’t usually give up the chance to take a penalty,” Rooney said.
He compared Haaland to great players like Messi and Ronaldo, explaining:
“Those players never give the ball away. That’s what separates them. They always want to score.”
Rooney added that maybe the pressure of playing at Wembley and the importance of the moment affected Haaland.
“He’s only human. Maybe it was just too much at that time.”
Drama After the Match – Guardiola vs. Henderson
There was even more drama after the final whistle. During Palace’s celebrations, Guardiola had a heated exchange with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. The City manager accused Henderson of wasting time during the match.
Guardiola later explained:
“He defended his position, and we defended ours. Everyone has their way of playing. But the truth is, we had our chances and didn’t score. Congratulations to Palace – they defended very well.”
Final Thoughts
Crystal Palace’s win will go down as one of the most memorable FA Cup finals in recent history. They fought hard, took their chances, and held off one of the best teams in the world. For Manchester City, the defeat was painful – not just because of the result, but because of the strange decision-making during a key moment. And for Haaland, questions remain. Why did one of the top goal scorers in world football walk away from a penalty in a final? Only he truly knows.