Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave his thoughts on Dean Henderson and Crystal Palace in their FA Cup Final defeat
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Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, clashes with Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, following the Emirates FA Cup Final
Pep Guardiola and Dean Henderson clash on the pitch after the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace
Pep Guardiola congratulated Dean Henderson and Crystal Palace after bemoaning the way their tactics stifled Manchester City.
The City boss exchanged words with the Palace keeper at full-time of their FA Cup final defeat but conceded that however frustrating it was for him to watch, his team should have done more.
Guardiola refused to discuss the controversial incident in the first half that saw Henderson not sent off despite handling the ball outside the box as he pushed the ball away from a dangerous area as Erling Haaland charged onto it. The Video Assistant Referee deemed that it was not denying a goalscoring opportunity, although most others disagreed.
Asked for his thoughts on the incident, the City manager refused to get into it as he maintained his stance of not commenting on refereeing or VAR decisions. He was more bothered by the timewasting that he thought Henderson engaged in that broke up the rhythm of his team as they pressed for an equaliser.
It isn't the way Guardiola likes to play, but after nine years in English football the manager has to accept the way different teams set up against him and City have used their own methods to wind the clock down when they have needed to. Ultimately, the Blues boss admitted that they only had themselves to blame for not winning the game.
"He defended his position, we defend our position," he said. "It's English football. Everyone can do whatever they want.
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"We have to score goals. We didn't lose because Henderson did that. They gave nine or ten minutes extra time but it's a question of rhythm.
"All the fans are there to let 22 players play. When Barcelona play, they attack and the other team attacks and it's beautiful. But it's a question of the referee. We don 't have the rhythm.
"I understand when it's 87 minutes, 96 but I don't feel it. My teams never try because I try to play the game that the people deserve to watch.
"Saying that, congratulations to Henderson and Palace because they defended really well and we were not able to score a goal."
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