Eberechi Eze’s goal was enough for Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup and condemn Manchester City to their first trophyless season since 2016/17.
The England international swept Daniel Munoz’s cross home to give Palace their first ever major trophy victory, but things could’ve been different had Omar Marmoush’s penalty not been saved by Dean Henderson, or if the Palace goalkeeper had been sent off for a handball outside the penalty that seemed to prevent Erling Haaland from having an open goal.
The focus for City must now turn to Tuesday night, where if they don’t beat Bournemouth, they appear to be in real trouble in the race for UEFA Champions League football.
Here are three things we learned from City’s FA Cup final defeat:
Wingers need to fix up - or they’ll be sold
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Jeremy Doku and Savinho happen to be the two most threatening and least threatening players in the Premier League.
If you want someone to beat a man, they’re the best in the league, by some distance too, in my opinion.
But when it comes to goals and assists, from the positions they get into, they’re absolutely nowhere near good enough.
Incidentally, I actually think Doku had a pretty good game yesterday, and Savinho straight after half time was excellent. But he tailed off and was rightfully replaced in the second half, and as for Doku with his last minute shot, if ever a single moment deserved a playing being immediately substituted, it was that.
They’re both young, and clearly can improve. But compare them to Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling from previous years - similar ages but much more established and effective.
For me, they both have next season to prove themselves. After that, they have to be sold, as so far, they’ve not shown themselves to be good enough.
O’Reilly struggles in the central areas
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
It perhaps doesn’t make sense given his background as a midfielder in City’s EDS, but I think Nico O’Reilly is a much better left back than he is a midfielder.
In the last few games, where we’ve seen Doku start on the left hand side, O’Reilly has played more narrow to accommodate the 22-year-old winger.
But it doesn’t suit him, as I don’t think technically he’s quite good enough to play centrally in a team like City - yet.
Out wide, he can use his physicality and athleticism to his advantage, whilst he is also a good crosser.
It’d suit Marmoush or Phil Foden playing on the left hand side too to drift in from the flank into a central position, and let Josko Gvardiol play at centre back, where he’s been excellent in recent weeks.
But when in the centre (and playing behind Doku) he tends to struggle, and he shouldn’t play at all if that’s the role he’ll be playing in.
Champions League football is hugely important
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
As I’ve mentioned before, City’s transfer business depends largely on whether they qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season.
There’s no way the likes of Florian Wirtz are going to want to sign for City if they’re in the Europa League next season. It could easily be a slippery slope for them.
One win and a draw will definitely be enough for City to qualify. Nottingham Forest beating Chelsea at the City Ground next week would be very helpful, whilst Aston Villa and Newcastle dropping points against Manchester United and Everton respectively would be useful.
And it probably wouldn’t be that much of a disaster if City did miss out on the top five. But as The Athletic’s Sam Lee said, you think you’re just having an off season, and fast forward eleven years and you’re in 16th place, as City’s rivals have discovered.
The next two games, though maybe sounding hyperbolic, are important for the future of the club at the very elite level. There is no underestimating quite how important Champions League football is as a lure for Europe’s very best players.