FA Cup: ‘There’s just no excuse’ – Bernardo Silva names who to blame for big mistake in City’s defeat
Manchester City midfielder, Bernardo Silva, has blamed the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, for the Cityzens FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
He expressed frustration over VAR’s failure to send off Crystal Palace goalkeeper, Dean Henderson for handling the ball outside his box in City’s 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup final.
Crystal Palace netted the only goal of the game in Wembly in the 16th minute through Eberechi Eze.
Although City dominated possession (78.3%), had more shots (23-7) and shots on target (6-2), they were not able to score, even missing a penalty in the process.
Just before he saved Manchester City’s penalty, Henderson could have been sent off for apparently handling the ball outside the area, denying Erling Haaland a goal-scoring chance.
However, VAR thought otherwise, incensing City players, with Henderson going on to produce a slew of other saves to deny the Cityzens.
Silva said as quoted by the Mirror, “You play in the best league in the world, teams work a lot to arrive at these stages and to perform. If we lose, it should be – for us or any team – because we don’t perform well. It shouldn’t be like this. When you have technology, there’s just no excuse for the mistakes that happen.
We’re a bit too used to these kinds of situations. I’ve watched it now, and I think it’s a big mistake, because playing 60 minutes with one more player can make a difference.
“I don’t like to make excuses at the end of games that we lose. I want to give credit to this Palace team, because they’re a very good side. They deserved it. They ran like crazy.”
It was Crystal Palace’s first-ever major trophy since 120 years.
For Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens, they will have a first trophy-less season since 2017.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City would not “deserve” to qualify for the Champions League if they finish outside the top five in the Premier League, but is confident they will get over the line.
City have had a miserable season by their high standards, ending the campaign without a trophy for the first time since 2017.
The deposed Premier League champions are sixth in the table ahead of Tuesday’s home match against mid-table Bournemouth but are just one point behind Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa, with a game in hand.
The top five clubs in the Premier League will all qualify for next season’s Champions League.
(FILES) Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) celebrates with Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder #17 Kevin De Bruyne (R) after the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England on March 30, 2025.
“If we are not in the Champions League, it’s because we don’t deserve it,” City boss Guardiola said on Monday. “And we’ll play the Europa League. So it is what it is.”
But he remains bullish over his team’s prospects, just days after they lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.
“I’m thinking we’re going to qualify…. To finish in third position in the Premier League, that is my target,” he said.
Tuesday’s game at the Etihad will be the final home match for long-serving Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who is leaving the club at the end of the season.
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But Guardiola said his own priority, and that of his captain De Bruyne, was achieving qualification for the Champions League.
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England on March 30, 2025. City won the game 2-1.
City have been ever-present in Europe’s top club competition since the 2011/12 season.
“I am going to decide the best, the best players to win the game against Bournemouth, that’s for sure,” said Guardiola.
“Kevin will get or deserve what he deserves. That is the best moment and best compliment for his incredible trajectory and what he has done.”
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