Frustration after titleless season: Guardiola refuses to shake Henderson's hand

For the first time since his debut season, Pep Guardiola will finish a season with Manchester City without winning a title. In the FA Cup final, the Citizens were particularly frustrated by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who drew attention for more than just his saves.

Pep Guardiola and Dean Henderson (from left) had a verbal exchange after the final whistle. IMAGO/Shutterstock

A season without a title hadn't been seen in the sky-blue part of Manchester for a long time. More precisely, not since the 2016/17 season, when the then newly appointed Pep Guardiola led his team to the round of 16 of the Champions League, the semifinals of the FA Cup, and third place in the Premier League.

"Congratulations to Crystal Palace on their first FA Cup title. That's history," the Catalan had to acknowledge at the subsequent press conference. Although his "match plan didn't work because we didn't win," Guardiola was generally not dissatisfied with his team's performance.

In fact, from their head coach's perspective, the Citizens even "played much better" than in their 5-2 victory over Palace about a month ago or in the previous FA Cup final, which they lost 2-1 to city rivals United. Ultimately, that's little consolation.

Ask the referee and the VAR.

Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson played a decisive role in the final defeat, saving a penalty from Omar Marmoush in the 36th minute. But should the goalkeeper have even been on the field at that point? The journalists also asked Guardiola this question, who declined to comment further, simply replying: "Ask the referee and the VAR."

Was it really in compliance? Dean Henderson (left) handled the ball just outside the box. IMAGO/Sportimage

About 13 minutes before the missed penalty, Henderson had cleared the ball with his hand from the onrushing Erling Haaland – albeit just outside his own penalty area, as the slow-motion footage showed. A scene that apparently escaped both referee Stuart Attwell and video assistant Jarred Gillett – and subsequently sparked discussion.

Henderson dedicates title to his late father

It wouldn't be the last time the goalkeeper was in the spotlight. A few moments after the final whistle, for example, there was a brief exchange between Henderson and Guardiola, with the latter even refusing to shake the Englishman's hand.

"I just wanted to shake his hand - and I think he was disappointed about the time-wasting. I said: 'You got the ten minutes (of stoppage time ) you wanted,'" Henderson, who was shown a yellow card for time-wasting shortly before the end, told ITV .

For the homegrown player from City's rivals Man United, it was his second FA Cup triumph, having already won the trophy with his training club in 2016 – albeit not as a permanent fixture in the squad. The 28-year-old dedicated this year's success – as a regular starter – to his father, who died at the beginning of the season and who certainly watched him "with every shot" in the final.