When Manchester City lost to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola explained why Omar Marmoush took the penalty instead of Erling Haaland. The two teams were separated by a cushioned volley from Eberechi Eze, but City’s Egyptian star wasted their finest opportunity to tie the score.
Shortly after the break, Tyrick Mitchell took down Bernardo Silva. Following a protracted VAR review, the on-field call was upheld, seemingly allowing Haaland to equalise from the penalty spot. Rather, the Norwegian gave the ball to Marmoush, both literally and figuratively, and Dean Henderson saved his attempt. The reason for the switch has finally been revealed.
Guardiola Claims Players Made Decision on Penalty
The Catalan coach did not take responsibility for the swap of the takers
After the game, Guardiola told the BBC that his players made the decision about who should take the penalty, implying that Haaland might have decided not to step up from 12 yards. “I don’t know [why Haaland didn’t take the penalty]. They take the decisions on the penalties,” Guardiola said, adding, “I like the guys who take the initiative. They decide.” When asked if Marmoush felt pressured to take the team’s first penalty kick in such a setting, the City manager simply responded, “his next one will be better.”
Although Haaland is often his team’s go-to penalty taker, his 12-yard shooting performance this season has been far from ideal. Four of his seven goals have come from the penalty spot; he has missed the other three, including one against Bournemouth in the FA Cup, who will no longer be allowed to play in Europe as a result of City’s loss.
Henderson on Marmoush’s Penalty
The goalkeeper was confident he would save the effort once he saw who was taking it
Palace’s number one, Dean Henderson, expressed his satisfaction at seeing Marmoush take the field in place of Erling Haaland after the game, saying he knew he was going to save the effort as soon as he saw the Egyptian grab the ball:
“If Haaland might’ve stepped up, I didn’t know which way he’d go, but Marmoush, I knew which way he was going.”
After the game, the English goalkeeper and Guardiola were also spotted in a furious altercation, but Henderson downplayed any indications that there were any genuine problems between them, and the City coach would not address the reason behind the altercation.
Palace defender Munoz talks to Haaland about it
“I questioned him about his refusal to accept the penalty.”
Before Marmoush took the penalty, Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace was seen talking to Haaland. It has now been made public what the Colombian defender said to the Norway talisman: “I asked him why he didn’t take the penalty, since he was the team’s top scorer. And he told me that his teammate was also a good kicker. So, I told him, ‘If you don’t take the penalty, he’ll miss.’ And he missed.”
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