Pep Guardiola refuses to shake hands with Crystal Palace star as Man City boss makes his feelings clear at the final whistle

In the storied arena of Wembley Stadium, where football dreams are either immortalized or shattered under the iconic arch, Crystal Palace wrote their own chapter of sporting folklore by clinching their first FA Cup trophy with a resolute 1-0 victory over Manchester City. However, as the final whistle echoed throughout the hallowed ground, it wasn’t just the Eagles’ historic triumph capturing headlines but the uncharacteristic display of petulance from one of football’s most celebrated tactical minds.

The Handshake That Never Was

As jubilant Palace players celebrated their monumental achievement, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made his feelings painfully evident. The Catalan tactician, visibly frustrated after watching his expensively assembled squad falter at the final hurdle, deliberately refused to shake hands with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson—the man whose heroics between the posts had proved decisive in denying City their chance of silverware.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper, who joined Palace on a free transfer last summer seeking regular first-team football, had produced a performance of a lifetime. His penalty save from Omar Marmoush midway through the first half proved to be a pivotal moment in the contest, but it was an earlier incident that had clearly remained lodged in Guardiola’s consciousness.

Just fifteen minutes into the showpiece final, Henderson found himself at the center of controversy when he handled the ball outside his area to prevent Erling Haaland from advancing on goal. To the astonishment of the City bench and their vociferous supporters, referee Michael Oliver deemed the offense worthy of only a yellow card, judging that the Norwegian striker had not been denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity despite the absence of defensive cover.

As players from both teams gathered for the customary post-match pleasantries, cameras captured Guardiola wagging his finger dismissively as Henderson approached. The snub sparked an immediate verbal altercation, with the goalkeeper appearing to reference the generous ten minutes of stoppage time that had been added—a decision that had visibly irked Palace players as they desperately clung to their slender advantage during the final moments.

Henderson Breaks Silence on Confrontation

Speaking exclusively to reporters in the mixed zone after collecting his winner’s medal, Henderson shed light on the heated exchange that threatened to overshadow Palace’s moment of glory.

“Look, emotions run high in these big games—especially finals,” the goalkeeper explained, clutching his medal with pride. “I went to shake his hand as you do, and he wasn’t having any of it. He kept pointing to the incident in the first half and the penalty save, saying something about how we didn’t deserve it and how we got lucky with the referee’s decisions.”

Henderson continued: “I simply reminded him that ten minutes of added time was excessive and told him that sometimes football doesn’t always go your way—even when you’re Manchester City. Perhaps it wasn’t the right moment, but after what we’ve achieved today, I wasn’t going to let anyone spoil this moment for us. This is Crystal Palace’s first major trophy, and nobody can take that away from us, not even Pep Guardiola.”

Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who witnessed the confrontation and quickly intervened, offered a more diplomatic assessment: “These things happen in football. Pep is a winner, and losing hurts—I understand that. But today belongs to Crystal Palace, to our supporters who have waited decades for this moment, and to players like Dean who performed exceptionally when it mattered most.”

Eze’s Moment of Brilliance Secures Historic Trophy

While the post-match altercation dominated social media discourse, it should not detract from Eberechi Eze’s magnificent match-winning contribution that ultimately decided this absorbing contest. The England international, whose silky skills and creative flair have earned him widespread admiration across the Premier League, delivered when it mattered most with a goal of sublime quality.

The decisive moment arrived in the 67th minute when Palace absorbed intense City pressure before launching a devastating counter-attack. Michael Olise’s intelligent interception and subsequent pass released Eze into space, and the midfielder showcased remarkable composure to glide past Rodri before delicately curling his finish beyond Ederson’s despairing dive into the far corner.

It was a goal worthy of winning any final—a moment of individual brilliance that exemplified Eze’s remarkable development under Glasner’s nurturing guidance. For a player who began his journey in the lower leagues with Millwall, QPR, and Wycombe Wanderers before finding his spiritual home at Selhurst Park, this was the culmination of a remarkable personal journey.

“This means everything,” an emotional Eze confessed after collecting his man-of-the-match award. “Growing up in Greenwich, watching FA Cup finals on television, you dream of moments like this. To score the winning goal at Wembley, to bring this trophy to Palace for the first time in our history—it’s indescribable. This is for everyone associated with the club, especially the fans who have stood by us through thick and thin.”

Henderson’s Heroics: From United Castaway to Palace Hero

While Eze rightfully earned plaudits for his match-winning contribution, Henderson’s performance between the posts was equally instrumental in securing Palace’s historic triumph. Having departed Manchester United after growing frustrated with his lack of opportunities behind David de Gea and later André Onana, the Whitehaven-born goalkeeper has rebuilt his career at Selhurst Park with consistent displays that have reignited discussions about his international credentials.

The controversial handball incident aside, Henderson’s first-half penalty save from Marmoush represented a psychological turning point in the contest. Diving low to his right, he somehow managed to push the Egyptian’s firmly-struck effort around the post, sparking delirious celebrations among the Palace faithful behind that goal.

That remarkable intervention was merely the beginning. As City laid siege to Palace’s penalty area throughout a dominant first-half display, Henderson produced a string of impressive saves to deny Haaland, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva. Each stop seemed to visibly deflate Guardiola’s men while simultaneously strengthening the collective resolve of Palace’s defensive unit.

“Dean was absolutely phenomenal today,” lauded Palace chairman Steve Parish, who has overseen the club’s transformation from Championship strugglers to established Premier League outfit capable of competing for major honors. “When we signed him last summer, we knew we were getting a goalkeeper with a point to prove. His performance today vindicated that decision and more—he’s written himself into Crystal Palace folklore forever.”

Guardiola’s Trophy Drought: City’s Season of Disappointment

For Manchester City and Guardiola, this defeat represents the culmination of a thoroughly disappointing campaign by their lofty standards. Having established an era of dominance with five Premier League titles in six seasons, including a historic treble in 2022/23, City will end this season without major silverware for the first time since Guardiola’s debut campaign in English football.

Their Champions League defense ended prematurely with a quarter-final exit to Real Madrid, while Arsenal pipped them to Premier League glory by a margin of three points. A shock Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of Tottenham in December further compounded their misery before this FA Cup final defeat delivered the final blow to their trophy aspirations.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, a visibly dejected Guardiola struggled to mask his disappointment: “Congratulations to Crystal Palace. They defended very well and took their chance when it came. We created enough opportunities to win the game, but in football, you must be clinical in both boxes, and today we weren’t.”

When pressed about the confrontation with Henderson, Guardiola initially attempted to downplay the incident: “It was nothing, just a moment of frustration. These things happen in football.” However, when further questioned, his underlying frustration resurfaced: “I respect all opponents, but I also believe in fair competition. Some decisions today were… difficult to understand.”

Palace’s Path to Glory: A Cup Run for the Ages

Crystal Palace’s journey to FA Cup glory began in unremarkable fashion with a routine third-round victory over Championship side Preston North End. Few would have predicted then that the Eagles would navigate a challenging path that included eliminations of Liverpool, Brighton, and eventually Manchester City to secure their first major trophy since their 1861 foundation.

The fourth-round triumph aga