Crystal Palace defender Daniel Muñoz has revealed why Erling Haaland did not take Manchester City’s penalty in the FA Cup final, instead allowing teammate Omar Marmoush to step up.
The decision came during a critical point in the match, with City trailing and in need of an equaliser.
The Egyptian international handed the responsibility after Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell fouled Bernardo Silva inside the area, earning City a penalty.
With Eberechi Eze having already put Palace ahead, the spot kick offered a prime opportunity for City to level the score.
However, Marmoush failed to convert, sending the chance wide and ultimately allowing Palace to maintain their lead.
Speaking to 10 Sports Colombia, Muñoz recounted a post-match exchange with Haaland, in which the Norwegian striker explained his reasoning for not taking the penalty himself despite being the team’s top scorer.
“I asked him why he didn’t take the penalty, since he was the team’s top scorer. And he told me that his teammate was also a good kicker,” Muñoz said.
“So, I told him, ‘If you don’t take the penalty, he’ll miss.’ And he missed.”
The moment has since sparked conversation about decision-making during high-stakes matches, particularly with regard to penalty responsibilities.
Haaland’s show of trust in Marmoush has been interpreted by some as admirable sportsmanship, while others argue that such critical opportunities should fall to a team’s most reliable finisher.
The missed chance proved pivotal as Crystal Palace held on to their lead to claim victory in one of the club’s most memorable finals.
