Pep Guardiola insisted he played no part in the decision that saw Omar Marmoush take a vital FA Cup final penalty against Crystal Palace instead of Erling Haaland.
City’s last chance of silverware this season evaporated at Wembley after Eberechi Eze’s 16th minute goal ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.
The game, however, was not without its controversial moments as Palace rode their luck on several occasions.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was extremely fortunate to escape a red card 10 minutes after Eze’s goal when he avoided a red card for a deliberate handball offence.
The VAR deemed the goalkeeper had not denied a clear goalscoring opportunity given the direction of play had been heading away from goal.
It was to prove a pivotal monent as, just 10 minutes later, Henderson produced a superb save to deny Marmoush from 12 yards.
The England international could have been forgiven for wondering why Haaland passed up the opportunity to score his first Wembley goal and it was an act that baffled BBC co-commentator Alan Shearer.
‘That is a big decision from Erling Haaland,’ Shearer said on BBC Sport commentary. ‘Not to want that penalty.’
When asked if he could have been ordered to pass the kick on, Shearer said: ‘Well he’s on the pitch, he’s fit enough to start the game, so he’s either said he doesn’t want it or Pep (Guardilola) doesn’t want him to take it. That is a big surprise to me, though.’
Haaland has scored just four of his last seven penalties for City, while Marmoush, prior to Saturday, had scored his last seven. This, though, was his first for the club he joined in January.
‘Not at all,’ Shearer added when it was suggested Haaland should not have given the ball to Marmoush. ‘Not when you are in his position. Erling Haaland, who and what you are.
‘He has scored 30 goals this season. I’m only speaking from a personal point of view but I wouldn’t be willing to give a penalty up in a cup final, no chance.’
At half-time, the punditry team, including Wayne Rooney and Gary Lineker, also debated the decision.
‘I don’t think he’s given it away,’ Rooney said. ‘I think it’s been taken off him.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Lineker added: ‘I can’t imagine that Haaland said he didn’t fancy it.
Shearer, meanwhile, added: ‘There’s no way anyone is saying to me “you’re not taking a penalty today if we get a penalty today”.’
Asked about Haaland’s act of generosity after the game, meanwhile, Guardiola was adamant he was comfortable with the decision to let Marmoush take the vital kick.
He said: ‘I don’t know I didn’t speak with them. They take the decision. Always with the penalties I like the guys who take the initiative and they decided.’