Crystal Palace defender Daniel Muñoz has revealed a bold exchange with Manchester City star Erling Haaland moments before Omar Marmoush’s crucial penalty miss in the FA Cup final at Wembley last weekend.
Crystal Palace Defender Reveals He Warned Haaland About Marmoush’s Missed Penalty in FA Cup Final
Palace lifted their first major trophy as Eberechi Eze’s composed first-half finish sealed a memorable 1-0 win over a surprisingly subdued Manchester City side.
Pep Guardiola’s men, who have dominated English football in recent years, ended the 2024–25 campaign without silverware—something few would have predicted at the start of the season.
City had a golden opportunity to level the game just before half-time when Bernardo Silva was brought down by Tyrick Mitchell inside the box.
With the pressure mounting, many expected Haaland—City’s leading scorer and usual penalty taker—to step up.
Instead, he handed the ball to January signing Omar Marmoush, who had been in electric form since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, Marmoush’s effort from the spot was denied brilliantly by Dean Henderson, who moments earlier had escaped a potential red card after appearing to handle the ball outside his box.
Speaking to 10 Sports Colombia, Muñoz shared what he told Haaland during the tense buildup.
“I asked him why he wasn’t taking the penalty, since he’s the top scorer,” Muñoz said.
“He told me his teammate was also a good kicker. So I told him, ‘If you don’t take it, he’s going to miss.’ And then he missed.”
That moment proved pivotal. Despite City’s second-half pressure and a flurry of late chances, Crystal Palace held firm to secure a historic victory under manager Oliver Glasner.
City have since bounced back with a 3-1 Premier League win over Bournemouth, keeping their Champions League hopes alive, but the sting of the FA Cup final defeat still lingers—especially after Haaland’s decision to defer such a crucial kick.
For Palace, the triumph will live long in memory. And for Muñoz, that brief exchange with Haaland may go down as one of football’s great “I told you so” moments.
