City lost 1-0 to Palace at Wembley as Oliver Glasner’s side won their first-ever major trophy on Saturday. However, City had a huge chance to equalise after falling behind to Eberechi Eze’s goal when they were awarded a penalty, Erling Haaland pass on the opportunity to Omar Marmoush, who saw his spot-kick saved by Dean Henderson.
What Pep Guardiola said.
“I thought he would want to take it but they didn’t speak,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.
“That moment for the penalty, it’s the feeling and how they feel. They decided Omar was ready to take it. Omar took a lot of time when the ball was stopped, so it put more pressure on him, and Henderson made a good save.
What Rooney said.
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney also offered his verdict on the Norwegian decision to snub the penalty suggested the occasion may have got to Haaland.
“Erling Haaland is a world-class forward, but when we are talking about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no way they are giving that ball away. That is what separates them two players from Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe and these players. They are selfish and they want to score every game.
“When he misses chances I think you can see it gets to him and it does affect him. Maybe the thought of taking a penalty at Wembley might have been too much for him. You never know, he is a human being.”
The bigger picture
Haaland swept all before him in his first season in England, plundering 52 goals in 53 games as City claimed a Treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
But he and his side have now lost in back-to-back finals at Wembley after being beaten by Manchester United last year.
In an interview with BBC Sport this week, Haaland described this season as “horrific” but said City had the chance to make amends by lifting silverware against Palace but they failed to do so.
Read: Haaland targets FA Cup amid Manchester City’s ‘horrific’ season
Haaland’s goal scoring exploits since arriving on these shores have been unmatched and, despite missing chunks of this season through injury, he has still managed to score 30 goals. But he has now failed to score in eight finals with City, extending his barren run to six games without finding the net at Wembley.
Haaland: ‘Missing three of his past seven penalties was maybe on his mind.’
Former England captain Alan Shearer said: “There is no way anyone is saying to me ‘you’re not taking a penalty today if we get a penalty’.
“Whether he has missed three in a season or whether he’s been out injured, you’re fit you’re out on the pitch and you should be game for taking the penalty.
“I cannot believe he turned around and said to someone else ‘you take the penalty because I don’t really fancy it’.”
Man City in need of ‘rebuild’
City dominated the opening stages and Haaland had a hooked effort clawed out by the inspired Henderson, but Palace hit them on the break as Eberechi Eze swept home the goal in the 16th minute that ultimately won Palace the match.
Read: Huge blow for Man City as Guardiola reveals Haaland’s duration for recovery
The defeated opposition players paid due respect to Palace by waiting for the opposition to lift the trophy before slipping off with their heads bowed down the tunnel.
Haaland, though, hung about on the pitch with his runners-up medal weighing heavily around his neck, probably contemplating how this season had gone so wrong.
What’s next?
The Norwegian and his team-mates will return to action again when they face Bournemouth on Tuesday and on Sunday as they face Fulham in their remaining two Premier League games.
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