United academy graduate dumped by Ten Hag wins FA Cup Ultimate Man of the Match award, Amorim might actually use him now

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Dean Henderson has simply helped Crystal Palace raise the FA Cup.

On Saturday night, all eyes had been on Wembley as Crystal Palace and Manchester Metropolis clashed within the FA Cup ultimate.

Many Manchester United followers tuned in, hoping Palace might deny their native rivals cup glory.

Others had a further cause, to see former United shot-stopper Dean Henderson in motion.

Henderson is without doubt one of the most interesting goalkeepers to emerge from Manchester United’s youth system. Sadly, he by no means managed to ascertain himself at Outdated Trafford.

Now 28, he needed to look elsewhere for recreation time, spending years on mortgage earlier than Palace took an opportunity on him in 2023, a raffle that has actually paid off.

Henderson has firmly cemented himself as one of many league’s standout goalkeepers.

Based on 2024-25 Premier League statistics, solely Matz Sels (13) and David Raya (12) have saved extra clear sheets than Henderson, who has additionally conceded the sixth fewest targets within the competitors.

Henderson’s FA Cup masterclass

As spectacular as Henderson has been all season, he topped his brilliance with a masterful efficiency towards Manchester Metropolis within the ultimate.

Aside from an in depth name dealing with the ball exterior the field, Henderson was in prime kind, making six essential saves.

A kind of saves was Omar Marmoush’s penalty, which might have levelled the sport after Eberechi Eze had given Palace the lead.

Late within the second half, he additionally denied Claudio Echeverri with a superb cease.

Remarkably, Henderson turned solely the second goalkeeper to save lots of a penalty in an FA Cup ultimate (excluding shootouts), following Petr Čech’s feat in 2010.

He additionally made historical past as the primary Crystal Palace keeper to maintain a clear sheet in a significant cup ultimate, serving to his facet safe a well-known 1-0 victory.

He was voted Man of the Match, following Kobbie Mainoo, who gained it for United final season.

For the second yr in a row, the Participant of the Match within the FA Cup Ultimate is a Manchester United academy graduate.

The most effective academy within the nation. 🎓 pic.twitter.com/vFnjdCRtpc

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) Could 17, 2025

The Impartial rated his efficiency 9 out of 10, describing it as “very important.”

Manchester United’s Remorse?

For Manchester United followers who’ve tracked Henderson’s improvement, his heroics had been bittersweet. They’ll’t assist however marvel why was he ever let go?

A controversial take, maybe, however seeing him step up towards Manchester Metropolis raises a official query: might he have carried out a greater job than André Onana at Outdated Trafford?

There are murmurs that Manchester United might be trying to find goalkeeping reinforcements, with considerations over their present choices.

Had Henderson not publicly criticised the membership for failing to make him their first alternative, as they’d allegedly promised, he might have been an ideal choice for a return.

Both manner, it’s nice to see him thriving. And if rattling Pep Guardiola at full-time was his manner of apologising for criticising the membership, then so be it.

As soon as a Pink Satan, all the time a Pink Satan: congratulations, Dean Henderson.

Featured picture Shaun Botterill by way of Getty Photos

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