Marc Guehi was spotted engaging in heated conversations with Crystal Palace supporters after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Macclesfield in one of the most remarkable upsets in the competition’s history on Saturday.
The FA Cup holders, who edged past Manchester City 1-0 in last summer’s final, were eliminated in the third round in stunning fashion as goals from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts sealed a famous 2-1 victory for the non-league side against Oliver Glasner’s team.
Although Yeremy Pino found the net in stoppage time to briefly raise hopes of a dramatic Crystal Palace recovery, Macclesfield — who currently sit 14th in the National League North — stood firm to complete a memorable giant-killing.
In a bid to ease tensions after the final whistle, Eagles skipper Guehi made his way over to the irate travelling supporters, who were left stunned by what they had witnessed from their team at Moss Rose.
Video footage circulated on social media following the match showed the 25-year-old defender being confronted by several unhappy fans.
Guehi started the game alongside fellow England international Adam Wharton, while club-record £35million signing Brennan Johnson was introduced at half-time for a Palace side whose financial power far outweighed that of Macclesfield.
The centre-back is now into the final six months of his Palace contract and is widely expected to depart Selhurst Park on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
As reported by the Daily Mail this week, Manchester City remain in discussions over a potential January move for Guehi, with Palace open to selling now for the right fee rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer, when Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also keen on the 25-year-old.
Wayne Rooney was left visibly emotional after watching his brother John, Macclesfield’s manager, engineer a fairytale victory.
Speaking after the game, the delighted head coach said: ‘I can’t believe it, we never thought we would be in this position. We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners.
‘I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads. I couldn’t have asked any more of them and you can see the joy in them.’
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace boss Glasner said: ‘We give congratulations to Macclesfield for winning. We had no kind of quality today and I saw no one who could win a dribble. Then conceding set goals and timing in the header.
‘If you can’t create clear chances, it is a lack of quality that we have shown today. We deserved to lose.’
Asked why his side failed to perform, he added: ‘[Lack of] quality. From everyone. Honestly, I have no explanation for what I have seen today and we can find excuses but you don’t need tactics and a manager for these games.
‘So I think if you just show what you are capable of and show pride then you perform in a different way.’
Wayne Rooney, who lifted the FA Cup in 2016, was working as a BBC pundit for the match and could be heard close to tears when reflecting on John’s achievement.
‘It’s incredible, I am getting emotional to see my younger brother achieve this,’ he said.
‘He’s not been long in management and to get through to the fourth round of the FA Cup and beat Crystal Palace, I am so proud of him.
‘He did [look calm], I don’t know how, it is such an achievement what he has done today, it is absolutely superb.’