Manchester United Midfielder Juan Mata mocked the prematurely celebratory jig of Crystal Palace Manager Alan Pardew yesterday in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Pardew engaged in a very overt and extravagant celebration when the Jason Puncheon put the Eagles up 1-0 in the 78′.
As you know, Mata equalized a couple minutes later and then Jesse Lingard scored the game winner in extra time, thus making Alan Pardew looking rather foolish.
Mata was not impressed by Pardew’s dancing style, and the Palace Manager won’t be living this down any time soon.
Video: Juan Mata mocking Alan Pardew celebration dance [@wozthegooner] https://t.co/Gk3uYR11fj
— utdreport (@utdreport) May 21, 2016
Pardew was widely ripped on social media for doing his premature celebration, and perhaps what happened to him and his side was karmic payback from the football gods.
Alan Pardew dancing like a smug idiot at 1-0 to Crystal Palace in an FA Cup final which he goes on to lose ??
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) May 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/jesscumpsonx/status/734099805711020032
Alan Pardew's celebration was a bit premature… #FACupFinal pic.twitter.com/o0rr8kL4jI
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 21, 2016
Today, Alan Pardew did exactly what he should- issue a mea culpa and ask for forgiveness. Credit the former Newcastle United Manager for doing a good job with damage control. Pardew told BBC Sport:
“In a Cup final and as a manager it’s difficult to enjoy moments. If you forgive me for my dance, it’s just because I enjoyed it.”
“My players gave everything. Everything. And they deserved to win but the game is like that.”
“We had a couple of decisions that went against us, big time. Connor [Wickham] was through, Wilfried [Zaha] had a penalty but I’m not going to bleat. It was a great performance from both teams, great final.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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