Football
REVEALED: Reason Erling Haaland didn’t take penalty in Man City FA Cup final defeat
Pep Guardiola has made it clear that he played no role in the decision for Omar Marmoush to take a crucial FA Cup final penalty ahead of Erling Haaland during Manchester City’s narrow defeat to Crystal Palace.
The match at Wembley ended in heartbreak for City after Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal secured a historic victory for Palace, who clinched their first-ever FA Cup title.

The game featured its share of drama and controversy. One major talking point came just ten minutes after Eze’s opener when Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson handled the ball outside his area.
Despite appearing to commit a deliberate handball, Henderson escaped a red card, with VAR determining he hadn’t denied a clear goalscoring opportunity as the direction of play was heading away from goal.
That decision proved vital. Only minutes later, Henderson produced a game-changing save, stopping Marmoush’s penalty and keeping Palace in the lead.
The decision to let Marmoush take the spot-kick instead of Haaland raised eyebrows, including those of BBC co-commentator Alan Shearer.
During the broadcast, Shearer questioned why City’s star striker would pass up such a crucial opportunity, especially in a cup final at Wembley.
Shearer remarked that the move was surprising, saying it was a big decision from Haaland not to take the penalty.
He speculated that either Haaland declined the chance or Guardiola made the call. However, Guardiola later denied that he influenced the decision, stating post-match that he hadn’t spoken to either player and that they decided among themselves.
Statistically, Haaland has converted just four of his last seven penalties for City, while Marmoush had scored his previous seven before Saturday, although this was his first attempt for City since joining in January.
Still, Shearer insisted that a player of Haaland’s stature, with 30 goals this season, should not relinquish such responsibility in a final.
During halftime, pundits Wayne Rooney and Gary Lineker also weighed in. Rooney expressed his belief that the penalty wasn’t voluntarily handed over by Haaland but was instead taken from him, adding more intrigue to the situation.
Lineker added that it was hard to imagine Haaland simply backing away from such a key moment.
Despite the swirling debate, Guardiola stood by his players’ autonomy. When pressed about the decision, he reiterated his stance that he prefers players to show initiative and that the choice was theirs alone.
Nevertheless, City’s missed opportunity has become a major talking point in the aftermath of a final that saw Crystal Palace etch their name into football history with a hard-fought win.
Football
‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer
Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.
The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.
In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.
The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.
Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.
Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.
Football
Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider
Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.
The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.
With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.
Football
Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.
A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.
Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.
Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.
Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.
After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.
Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.
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