Marc Guehi's Calm Response to Frustrated Crystal Palace Fans Reveals Deeper Reckoning After Shocking FA Cup Defeat
After a historic FA Cup loss to Macclesfield FC, Marc Guehi confronted disappointed Crystal Palace fans while Oliver Glasner criticized his side's lack of quality. The emotional victory for Macclesfield added further poignancy to the seismic upset.
Marc Guehi was spotted approaching angry Crystal Palace fans in the aftermath of his side’s historic FA Cup defeat against sixth-tier Macclesfield FC on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles captain came face-to-face with the travelling supporters following a seismic loss which manager Oliver Glasner said he had “no explanation” for after the full-time whistle.Looking to earn a safe passage to the fourth round of the competition they won for the first time last season, Palace were the heavy favourites before a ball was kicked at Moss Rose Stadium.However, Glasner’s Premier League side - 117 places above their sixth-tier opponents - soon found themselves 1-0 down when captain Paul Dawson headed home just seconds after having his head bandaged following a clash with Palace defender Jaydee Canvot.Hoping to quickly turn the game on its head, the visitors made three substitutions at half time, with January signing Brennan Johnson, Will Hughes and Tyrick Mitchell introduced after the interval.But Palace were soon trailing by two goals when Macclesfield forward Isaac Buckley-Ricketts - a former Manchester City academy player - showed quick instincts to prod the ball home just after the hour mark.Palace threatened a dramatic comeback in Cheshire when Yeremy Pino found the back of the net with a superb free-kick on the 90th-minute mark, but the holders ran out of time as Macclesfield produced a shock for the ages.And immediately after the full-time whistle sounded around a bouncing Moss Rose Stadium, with home supporters flooding the pitch to congratulate the Macclesfield charges, Guehi was captured approaching the Palace fans in the away end.Bearing the brunt of the Palace’s faithful’s frustration, the England international cut a composed figure as he calmly listened to supporters’ thoughts before television cameras cut away to Macclesfield’s celebrations.Guehi, who is being strongly linked with a host of clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool ahead of his contract expiring in the summer, played for the full 90 minutes against Macclesfield.While Palace boss Glasner was also calm when speaking about his side’s surprise loss, the Austrian did not mince his words at the same time.“Congratulations to Macclesfield for winning,” said Glasner. “We missed any kind of quality today. I haven’t seen anybody who could win a dribble. “Conceding another set-play goal [for the opener], losing the header, no timing in the header. We know this, but we have to do better. The second goal was a more slapstick goal. “And on the other side, if you can’t create clear chances, we didn’t have really maybe one or two right at the end, but everything else is just a lack of quality, what we’ve shown today. And that’s why we lost and we deserve to lose. Honestly, I have no explanation for what I have seen today.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingIt was an emotional victory for Macclesfield, newly-reformed in 2020 after the old Macclesfield Town were wound up in the High Court, following the tragic death of former player Ethan McLeod last month.McLeod - who was just 21 years old - was killed in a car accident while travelling back from his side’s match at Bedford Town on 16 December, where he was an unused substitute.In an poignant post-match interview, Macclesfield captain Dawson dedicated his side’s win to McLeod, whose parents were in attendance at Moss Rose Stadium.“That was for him,” Dawson said. “A big team performance. We’ve dug in really well, and that was for Ethan.“I haven’t really mentioned much in the changing room. I didn't want to put the extra pressure on the lads. I had a nice message off his dad last night and I was like, do I send it to the lads, or do I tell them before the game. But I didn't really want to put that little extra bit of pressure on them with everything we've been through, so I thought I'd leave that till after the game.“It was tough. You know, his parents are here today, young Ethan, so we need to go and see them as well. It’s been a really tough time and we've all stuck together through it. It’s never, ever gonna get easier. We've still got pitchers up in the changing room. That will never go.“It has been really tough. But Ethan, I think he'd be looking down today and he'll be proud of us as well.”Macclesfield will find out who they will play in the fourth round of the FA Cup when the draw is made on Monday, 12 January at 6:35pm.Meanwhile, for Guehi, Glasner and Palace, they will hope to put an end to what is now a nine-game winless run in all competitions when they travel to Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, 17 January.
Marc Guehi's Interaction with Crystal Palace Fans
In the aftermath of Crystal Palace's unexpected defeat to Macclesfield FC, Marc Guehi showed composure by approaching frustrated fans in the away end. Despite bearing the brunt of their disappointment, Guehi attentively listened to their thoughts, reflecting a rare act of empathy in a disheartening moment for the club.
Oliver Glasner's Blunt Assessment
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner did not hold back in his assessment of the team's performance, labeling the loss as a result of a significant lack of quality on the field. Glasner expressed bewilderment at the shortcomings displayed by his side, emphasizing the need for drastic improvement to avoid further disappointments.
Macclesfield's Emotional Victory
Macclesfield FC's triumph over Crystal Palace carried emotional weight, as the newly-reformed club dedicated the win to former player Ethan McLeod, tragically lost in a recent car accident. Captain Paul Dawson highlighted the team's unity and resilience in honoring McLeod's memory, underscoring the poignant nature of the victory.
Moving Forward
As Macclesfield progresses to the next round of the FA Cup, Crystal Palace faces a challenging period following a prolonged winless streak. With uncertainties looming, both clubs navigate contrasting paths, navigating through triumph and adversity in the unpredictable landscape of football.

