Visibly animated, Guardiola repeatedly approached Henderson on the field after the final whistle, expressing his displeasure. When questioned about the confrontation, Guardiola acknowledged the goalkeeper's right to defend his team's position, stating, "Listen, he defend his position, we defend our position." However, he took issue with the perceived early commencement of these tactics, adding, "I understand in the last minutes (time wasting), but since the one or two minutes ... he’s British. You know in English football you have to play."
Despite his annoyance, Guardiola conceded that Henderson's gamesmanship was not the decisive factor in City's loss. "Everyone can do what they want. You have to score goals. We didn’t lose because Henderson was time wasting," he affirmed. He also emphasized his own coaching philosophy, stating, "In my teams I never tried (time wasting) because I try to play the game the people deserve to watch."
Crystal Palace emerged victorious courtesy of a solitary goal from Eberechi Eze, but Henderson played a pivotal role in securing the upset. The Palace shot-stopper proved to be a formidable presence, notably saving a first-half penalty from Omar Marmoush to maintain his team's advantage.
Reflecting on the momentous win, Henderson exuded confidence, saying, "We had a feeling it would be our day today. The manager got a gameplan and we executed it. We deserve this so much."
The match also featured a contentious incident involving Henderson, who appeared to handle the ball outside his penalty area to thwart a potential opportunity for Erling Haaland. While Guardiola declined to comment on the situation, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner offered a lighthearted perspective, joking, "I thought ‘Why you don’t kick the ball?’ I had my fingers crossed that the VAR doesn’t intervene. Everything worked."
The aftermath of the FA Cup final underscored the intense emotions and tactical battles that define such high-stakes encounters. While Crystal Palace celebrated a memorable triumph, Guardiola's post-match reaction added another layer of intrigue to the narrative, highlighting the contrasting approaches and frustrations that can arise on the grandest stage.