Pep Guardiola responds when asked about Erling Haaland deciding to hand penalty to Omar Marmoush before miss in Manchester City’s FA Cup final loss
- Crystal Palace win first major trophy as Man City’s FA Cup hopes crumble at Wembley
- City’s Wembley nightmare sees Crystal Palace lift historic first major trophy
Manchester City suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the 2025 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 17. But it wasn’t just the result that stunned fans—it was Erling Haaland’s surprising decision to let Omar Marmoush take a crucial first-half penalty, which was saved and ultimately cost City the chance to equalise.
Eberechi Eze Goal Secures Historic Win for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace took the lead early in the match thanks to a brilliant counter-attacking move finished by Eberechi Eze in the 16th minute. Despite dominating possession, Manchester City struggled to break down Palace’s organized defense.
Just before halftime, City were handed a lifeline when Tyrick Mitchell fouled Bernardo Silva in the box. A penalty was awarded, and all eyes were on Erling Haaland—City’s top scorer and usual spot-kick taker. But in a surprising twist, Haaland gave the penalty to Omar Marmoush, who saw his effort saved by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Guardiola: “I Don’t Know Why Haaland Gave It Away”
Speaking to City Xtra, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted he was unaware of the reasoning behind Haaland’s decision:
“They decided on the pitch. I don’t know. I didn’t speak with them, I don’t know…”
City midfielder Bernardo Silva also addressed the decision, telling BBC Radio 5 Live:
“Normally Erling [Haaland] is the taker, but they decided Omar [Marmoush] take it. I wasn’t in the decision so I’m not sure. Penalty misses can happen. That wasn’t the main issue—of course it was important—but we had other opportunities.”
Dean Henderson the Hero as Palace Make History
Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson delivered a man-of-the-match performance, making six key saves—including the penalty—to guide his side to their first-ever major trophy in 119 years.
Speaking after the match, Henderson said he felt confident once he saw Marmoush was stepping up instead of Haaland:
“Haaland might’ve stepped up, I didn’t know which way he’d go, but Marmoush—I knew which way he was going. I knew I would save it.”
“The manager had a gameplan, and we executed it perfectly. It’s an incredible feeling. We deserve this so much.”
A Trophyless Season for Manchester City
This defeat means Manchester City will end the 2024/25 season without a major trophy—a rare outcome under Pep Guardiola. Erling Haaland finishes the campaign with 30 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions, while Omar Marmoush scored 7 goals in 20 appearances after joining the club in the summer.
City’s decision-making, especially in key moments like the penalty incident, will now come under serious scrutiny. With a crucial transfer window approaching, changes may be on the horizon as the club looks to bounce back stronger next season.
