Pep Guardiola was unhappy about Dean Henderson’s time wasting in Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat – but the Spaniard refused to be drawn on whether the Crystal Palace goalkeeper should have been sent off.
An angry Guardiola exchanged words with Henderson after the final whistle following City’s 1-0 loss at Wembley, which leaves them without a trophy this season and still sweating on their qualification for the Champions League.
Henderson was fortunate not to be sent off after he took the ball off Erling Haaland’s toes when he handled the ball outside of his penalty area.
PEP 💬 Congratulation to Palace. We did everything. Nothing to regret. In the last two games we faced teams who are so, so deep. We created a lot. If you cannot score goals, you cannot win. pic.twitter.com/STpWrLN50v
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 17, 2025
Later in the first half, Henderson then saved Omar Mamoush’s spot-kick and pulled off a string of saves as Palace secured the first major trophy in their history thanks to Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal.
Explaining his confrontation with Henderson, City boss Guardiola said: “He defended his position and we defend our position on time wasting.
“In the one or two minutes he is British. I am sorry. Everyone can do whatever they want. We have to score goals. We didn’t lose because Henderson was time wasting in the last minutes, I understand that.
“But it was true, they gave us 10 minutes (of injury) time, but it is a question of rhythm and to let the 22 players play, play, play. You see Barcelona now, they attack, attack, attack and the other team attack and attack and the show is beautiful.
“I understand his position. But I don’t feel it. My teams never try that because I try to give the game the people deserve to watch.
“But in saying that, congratulations to Henderson and Crystal Palace and they defended well and we were not able to score a goal.”
DEAN HENDERSON.
The @CPFC shot-stopper with an incredible save to deny Omar Marmoush from the spot 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Mxf5URv9K6
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 17, 2025
Referee Stuart Attwell failed to spot Henderson handling the ball outside of his box and VAR did not intervene as they claimed the ball was going away from the Palace goal.
Commenting on the first-half controversy, Guardiola continued: “Don’t ask me. Ask the referee and ask VAR. It is not my business.”
Palace manager Oliver Glasner said of the flashpoint: “I thought, ‘why don’t you kick he ball?’ And then I had my fingers crossed that VAR did not intervene and everything worked out.”
After falling behind to Eze’s goal, City were handed a lifeline when Tyrick Mitchell fouled Bernado Silva with 10 minutes of the first half remaining.
Haaland might have taken the penalty, but after he kissed the ball, he handed it to Marmoush who saw his spot-kick saved by Henderson. Haaland has now failed to score in six appearances at Wembley and in eight City finals.
“They decided on the pitch so I don’t know,” said Guardiola when quizzed as to why Haaland, who has missed three of seven penalties this season, passed the ball to Marmoush.
“I have not spoken to them. In that moment, it is about how you are feeling and they decided Omar was ready to take it. Omar took a lot of time and that put more pressure on himself and Henderson made a good save.”
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner hailed his players for writing a new chapter in Crystal Palace’s history following their 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal and Dean Henderson’s penalty save paved the way for Palace to land their first major trophy and a spot in the Europa League next season.“We said before the game that we wanted t...
Airdrieonians secured their place in the Scottish Championship for another season as they beat Cove Rangers 2-1 on aggregate in their play-off final after a 0-0 second-leg draw at Excelsior Stadium.The early stages saw Lewis McGrattan bring a good save out of Cove goalkeeper Nicholas Suman, before counterpart Cade Melrose did well at the other end as he blocked Adam Emslie’s shot with his fo...
Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal fired Crystal Palace to the first major trophy in their history as they secured a 1-0 FA Cup victory over Manchester City at Wembley.Eze put Palace ahead with their first attack of the match before an inspired Dean Henderson saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty.However, Henderson could count himself fortunate to still be on the pitch after he earlier appeared t...
East Kilbride won promotion to Scottish League Two for the first time and sent Bonnyrigg Rose down after a 0-0 draw at New Dundas Park saw the visitors triumph 3-1 on aggregate.Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Paddy Martin did well to keep out a Joao Balde strike in the 24th minute, before Aaron Arnott fired over at the other end.Kerr Young was unable to make the most of two chances for the hosts midway throu...
Jim Goodwin paid tribute to his dogged Dundee United side following the 2-1 comeback win over Aberdeen which clinched fourth place and a European spot.The Terrors, who returned to the William Hill Premiership this season, had lost their four post-split matches going into the final fixture against the Dons, who were two points ahead and looking in fine fettle when Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels score...
Barry Ferguson was left infuriated by one of the worst decisions he has ever seen and called for the introduction of goal-line technology after Rangers were on the wrong end of a pivotal first-half call in their season-concluding 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.With Gers leading through an early Cyriel Dessers strike, Nico Raskin looked to have put them two ahead in the 15th minute but Hibs defender Ro...
AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson believes the toughness of his side has driven them to the League Two play-off final after they defeated Notts County 1-0 at Plough Lane.An early strike by Josh Neufville gave the Dons a 2-0 aggregate victory that was as deserved as it was hard-earned.The South London outfit have not let in a goal in the last three games, and further demonstrated why their defe...
Dundee United clinched a European place after leapfrogging Aberdeen into fourth place in the William Hill Premiership with a stunning 2-1 comeback win.Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels scored his first goal for the Dons since signing on loan from Preston in January after 15 minutes with the visitors controlling the game.United gradually came back into it and in the 56th minute defender Declan Gallagher...
Rangers were left to lament a contentious first-half moment as they ended a largely dispiriting William Hill Premiership campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.Second-placed Gers went ahead early on through top scorer Cyriel Dessers and felt they should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line. However, play was waved on and Hibs ...
James Forrest gave Celtic fans the finale they craved as he equalised in stoppage time against St Mirren to extend his run of scoring for the club to 16 consecutive seasons.Forrest left it until the league season was 38 games old to get off the mark on a day when he was chosen to deliver the William Hill Premiership trophy to his team-mates ahead of Callum McGregor lifting it for the fourth year r...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 4 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 5 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 6 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 7 Mat Sadler hails Walsall’s ‘fighting performance’ after win in play-off first leg
- 8 David Gray thanks Hibernian board for showing faith in him after securing third
- 9 Airdrieonians earn first-leg lead over Cove in play-offs
- 10 Flick lauds Yamal, as Barca nears title