For their performance in the FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, Manchester City supporters have been furious with one individual. Dean Henderson’s 10/10 performance and Eberechi Eze’s first-half goal left the 2023 winners startled and slumbered to their second straight final loss, frustrating Pep Guardiola’s team.
Some of the pivotal moments that caused the tide to shift against the Cityzens over the ninety minutes were Omar Marmoush’s failed penalty and young Nico O’Reilly’s difficulties against Daniel Munoz. Supporters, however, have shifted their focus to another man and are holding him accountable for the devastating Wembley defeat.
Manuel Akanji Slammed By Manchester City Fans
The defender started for just the second time since February
Manuel Akanji was given the greatest share of the responsibility for the loss among all the players who received the most criticism from City supporters on social media. Several people said that the Swiss international cost his team the trophy. Akanji, who was hammered in his first start back against Southampton a week ago, was playing just his second game since suffering an injury in February.
Positioned on the right side of the back four, Akanji handed up possession eight times during the match and only won two of his five duels. As forward Erling Haaland attempted to pull on Chris Richards at the back post, he wasted crossing positions and only managed one block and one interception.
Many fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the 29-year-old’s performance on X. One fan wrote: “Akanji has to be one of the most worthless players I’ve seen in a City shirt to date,” while another said: “Look at useless Akanji… refuse to even pass the ball to Echeverri.
“Get Akanji out of this club,” urged another, and “I’m not watching another minute of football if Akanji bombs down the wing one more time,” remarked a fourth.
“This entire half of football has just been Akanji getting the ball out wide and having no idea what to do with it,” asserted a fifth, while a sixth went even farther and implied that Akanji is a terrible football player. He would never be playing at this level if it weren’t for his aptitude for mathematics and his quickness. He played a devilish game, my god.
“Congrats, Akanji. You cost my club an FA Cup.” remarked a seventh. Another implied that the former Borussia Dortmund player has previously faltered in a City final, saying: “Akanji nearly cost us our first UCL and he cost us the FA Cup.”
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