“He defended his position, we defend our position,” Reason why Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and Dean Henderson had a heated clash on pitch after the FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace (0-1)

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, conveyed his appraisal of Dean Henderson and Crystal Palace following their FA Cup Final loss.

After lamenting the manner in which Manchester City’s tactics were thwarted, Pep Guardiola congratulated Dean Henderson and Crystal Palace.

The City manager conversed with the Palace custodian at the conclusion of their FA Cup final loss; however, he acknowledged that his team could have done more, despite the frustration he experienced.

Guardiola declined to address the contentious incident in the first half, in which Henderson was not dismissed despite handling the ball outside the box and pushing it away from a dangerous area as Erling Haaland charged onto it. Although many others disagreed, the Video Assistant Referee determined that it was not denying a goalscoring opportunity.

The City manager declined to provide his perspective on the incident, as he maintained his policy of refraining from commenting on refereeing or VAR decisions. He was more concerned with the time-wasting that he believed Henderson was engaging in, which disrupted the cadence of his team as they pursued an equaliser.

Guardiola does not favour this approach; however, after nine years in the English Premier League, the manager must acknowledge the strategies employed by opposing teams. City have implemented their own strategies to slow down the clock when necessary. In the end, the Blues’ manager acknowledged that they were solely responsible for the unsuccessful outcome of the game.

“He defended his position; we defend our position,” he stated. “It is football played in England.” Everyone has the freedom to pursue their own interests.

“We must score goals.” Henderson’s actions did not result in our defeat. They extended the duration by nine or ten minutes; however, the issue is one of rhythm.

“The entire audience is present to witness the performance of 22 players.” It is a gorgeous spectacle when Barcelona and the opposing team engage in an attack. However, it is a matter of the referee. We lack the cadence.

“I comprehend when the duration is 87 or 96 minutes, but I do not experience it.” I strive to play the game that the audience deserves to witness, which is why my teams never make an attempt.

“That being said, I would like to extend my congratulations to Henderson and Palace for their exceptional defence, which prevented us from scoring a goal.”