Manchester City’s players have been accused of still being hungover as they produced a strangely lethargic FA Cup final display.
Manchester United arrived at Wembley as big underdogs but City’s stars looked way off it, leaving some fans to speculate that they are still feeling the effects of their post-league title party.
‘City are playing like a team that’s been on the piss all week,’ one post on X read.
‘City players look like they can’t run at all,’ another posted. ‘Too much booze.’
Pep Guardiola’s side sealed a fourth successive Premier League title last weekend with a win over West Ham, as players had a wild party to mark their latest title.
Man City’s players, including Erling Haaland, partied until 5am after winning the league title
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EPISODE 89: Why Manchester City aren’t the reason the League is boring
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EPISODE 87: Why United must tear down Old Trafford and move to Wembley
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Jack Grealish, who started on the bench at Wembley, and Erling Haaland led the revelry as City’s stars celebrated until 5am at Greek restaurant Fenix, as players brought along their wives and girlfriends for a boozy night.
Grealish and Haaland struck a pose early in the night as they showed off their watches, with a Premier League medal dripping from the striker’s neck.
The party started in the dressing room, where players danced and sung: ‘Campeones, campeones, ole, ole, ole!’
Later on, Phil Foden’s girlfriend Rebecca Cooke attended the festivities – as well as his mother Claire Rowlands – while Rico Lewis was also seen holding hands with his partner, and Guardiola’s wife Cristina was pictured.
Jack Grealish posed with his Premier League medal as Manchester City’s stars went wild
Erling Haaland’s girlfriend Isabel Haugsend threw herself into the dancing on the night out
‘A couple of days it just knocks you back a little bit,’ Gary Neville said earlier in the week, suggesting it opened a door for Man United to exploit.
Exploit it they did as United raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
The first goal came from a mix-up between Josko Gvardiol and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, while the second saw United slice through City before Mainoo slotted home.
More to follow.