Following Manchester City`s unexpected defeat in the FA Cup final, manager Pep Guardiola reportedly had a heated exchange with Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. A professional lip-reader claims to have deciphered the furious five-word message delivered by the City boss moments after the final whistle.
Guardiola confronted the victorious Henderson on the pitch. While Henderson, 28, had been fortunate earlier in the match not to receive a red card for handling the ball outside his area, the reported source of Guardiola`s frustration was not this incident.
Instead, the Manchester City manager was apparently angered by what he perceived as excessive time-wasting tactics from the Crystal Palace goalkeeper throughout the game, despite a considerable ten minutes of stoppage time being added at the end of the regulation 90 minutes.
The Mail newspaper enlisted the expertise of lip-reader Jeremy Freeman to analyze the interaction between the two men.
According to Freeman, Guardiola told Henderson: “You didn`t deserve that. Disgrace.”
Henderson`s alleged response was direct: “You still had your 10 minutes.”
Guardiola is then reported to have retorted: “It`s not fair play. You should not – it`s not fair.”
The tense moment was reportedly diffused when Crystal Palace`s substitute goalkeeper, Matt Turner, stepped in.
When later questioned about the incident by ITV, Henderson downplayed the confrontation.
“I just want to shake his hand,” Henderson said. “But I think he was disappointed with the time wasting.”
He added: “I said, `You got the ten minutes you wanted`. There`s no hard feelings.”
For his part, Guardiola, 54, acknowledged his displeasure with Crystal Palace`s style of play.
He commented on Henderson: “He defended his position, we defend our position. It`s English football. Everyone can do whatever they want.”
Guardiola insisted that City`s loss was due to their inability to score goals, not Henderson`s actions. However, he expressed frustration with the disruption to the game`s rhythm, contrasting it with the more free-flowing style he advocates. “All the fans are there to let 22 players play… But it`s a question of the referee. We don`t have the rhythm.”
He concluded: “I understand when it`s 87 minutes, 96, but I don`t feel it. My teams never try because I try to play the game that the people deserve to watch. Saying that, congratulations to Henderson and Palace because they defended really well and we were not able to score a goal.”
Away from the touchline spat, Dean Henderson, who saved Omar Marmoush`s first-half penalty, dedicated Crystal Palace`s historic FA Cup victory to his late father.
The former Manchester United stopper shared emotionally: “I lost my dad at the start of the season and I’ll miss him here today. He was with me every kick of the ball today and I dedicate that win to him.”
