Manchester City’s bold tactical experiment failed in the FA Cup final, as Crystal Palace clinched a 1-0 upset. A missed penalty, disjointed formation, and farewell frustration for De Bruyne sealed City’s second straight cup final loss.
- Pep Guardiola benched natural midfielders, forcing De Bruyne and Silva into defensive roles with limited impact.
- Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze scored the only goal after a slick move, exposing City’s tactical gaps.
- Omar Marmoush missed a crucial penalty, while Erling Haaland struggled again at Wembley.
City fans honored Kevin De Bruyne in what may be his last match for the club, yet the team’s chaos overshadowed the occasion. Palace's resilience shone, while Guardiola's decisions left players and supporters visibly frustrated by full-time.
As Guardiola reflects on another high-stakes tactical misfire, can City recalibrate for stability in future finals? Will this defeat prompt a shift back to basics?
