Manchester City lost the FA Cup final 1-0 to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
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Erling Haaland of Manchester City interacts with match referee Stuart Attwell as Omar Marmoush prepares to take his side's penalty during the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace
Erling Haaland handed the ball to Omar Marmoush for Manchester City's penalty against Crystal Palace
Even in a season of concern for Manchester City, few would have predicted Erling Haaland's goalscoring appetite being an area that needed addressing.
But, as he stood hands on hips at full time after City were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, there was a discussion among pundits and fans alike as to why the Norwegian did not take the first-half penalty that could have hauled the Blues level.
When Bernardo Silva was felled in the box, referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot and while the VAR check was taking place, Haaland stood with ball in hand. But, when it came to the crunch, he passed the responsibility to Omar Marmoush. The January arrival missed even if the spot kick was well kept out by Dean Henderson. With that went City's best chance of finding a way back into the cup final.
Haaland has missed much of the past few months with injury but returned to the team against Southampton last time out and has been City's penalty taker since his arrival. He's missed three of the seven he's taken this term but it was still a surprise to see him hand the ball to Marmoush. And the decision was even more concerning when City boss Pep Guardiola said after the game that it was the players on the pitch who made the call.
"I don't know, I didn't speak with them. They take a decision. With penalties I like the guys to take initiative and they decide," said Guardiola.
That suggested Haaland didn't fancy it which is a concern in itself for a player who trades on goals. He has 120 in 140 games for City and you'd struggle to find too many goal-hungry strikers who would turn down the chance to add to their tally with a free shot from 12 yards.
"I cannot believe he's turned around and said to someone else 'you take the penalty because I don't really fancy it'," said an incredulous Alan Shearer.
"There's no way anyone is saying to me 'you're not taking a penalty today if we get a penalty today'.
"Whether he's missed three in a season or whether he's been out injured. You're fit, you're out on the pitch and you should be game for taking the penalty."
Wayne Rooney was similarly baffled, adding: "Erling Haaland is a world-class forward, but when we're talking about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, there's no way they're giving that ball away.
"That's what separates them two players from Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe and these players. They are selfish and they want to score every game.
"When he (Haaland) misses chances I think you can see it gets to him and it does affect him. Maybe the thought of taking a penalty at Wembley might have been too much for him. You never know, he's a human being."
It was a pivotal moment in the game, albeit not the only one amid a controversial VAR decision not to send off Henderson for handling the ball outside the box shortly before the spot kick he saved. And it was left to Bernardo to sum up the situation.
"I don't know. Normally Erling [Haaland] is the taker but they decided Omar [Marmoush] take it. I wasn't in the decision so I'm not sure.
"Penalty misses can happen. That wasn't the main issue - of course it was important - but we had other opportunities."