Manchester City loses final, Haaland faces criticism

In a surprising result, Manchester City lost 0–1 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, missing their last opportunity to end the season with silverware. It was Pep Guardiola’s side’s final shot at a trophy this campaign.

Eze — the scorer who opened the way to victory

In the 16th minute, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze scored with a precise shot from the edge of the box. That goal had a significant impact on the match’s outcome.

Haaland skipped the penalty — Marmoush failed to score

In the 33rd minute, City earned a penalty after a foul in the opponent’s box. Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot after a VAR check. Erling Haaland initially prepared to take the shot, but at the last moment handed the ball to Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian’s shot was saved by Palace keeper Dean Henderson.

City thus missed a golden chance to equalize and lost psychological momentum.

Wayne Rooney: “Haaland is not elite”

England legend Wayne Rooney criticized Haaland for not taking the penalty:

“Haaland is a great scorer, but he’s not on Messi or Ronaldo’s level. Those two would never give up a penalty in that situation. They have a certain level of selfishness — they always go for goal. Haaland backed away from responsibility.”

No final contributions — why?

It’s noteworthy that Haaland has played in 8 finals for Manchester City, yet hasn’t scored or assisted in any of them. This has strengthened the view that he underperforms in “big games.”

While his seasonal stats are impressive, his lack of impact in decisive matches raises questions about his leadership.

Khusanov in the squad — debut still awaited

Uzbek youngster Abdukodir Khusanov was included in the squad for the final at Wembley. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to play and watched from the bench. Still, his inclusion shows the coaching staff sees potential.

Back in January 2024, when Husanov moved to City from Lens, Haaland was among the first to support the Uzbek defender. Now, some fans see the striker not as a leader but as someone who struggles with pressure.

Zamin.uz editorial note:
City’s final defeat exposed several issues. Despite having world-class stars, the team lacks composure and leadership in key moments. Haaland’s penalty hesitation and poor final record deserve serious reflection.

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