It is the moment that all magicians fear when the public no longer pants. Go play for Manchester City and you will soon know the feeling. Ebereechi, be warned.
His goal was the difference between the teams here. But you suspect that it would not have made a difference if he had been to the city, and that is not a skill on him.
The midfielder of Crystal Palace scored with his fourth touch of the game in the 16th minute. In the colors of the city he would have had 40 – and probably very little done with one of them. That is the philosophy of Pep Guardiola – Pass, possession, process, patience. But where is the penetration? The Pizazz? The danger? The audience no longer craves breath, you see.
Eze is a player who can be breathtaking. There were not much of those moments this time – City had 78 percent of the ball – but he still produced the one who mattered, the one who made sure that they emptied their lungs in red and blue.
When Eze received his winner's medal from Prince William, it was he who received the royal reception from the Palace fans, the loudest and warmest cheers of all. He certainly made them happy everywhere. Those in the city had long felt the cold of an approaching defeat.
In reality there had been a contrast all day – Palace and their supporters lived and energetic, City and them tried the enthusiasm accompanied by the pursuit of a first trophy. This was their 21st Wembley visit under Guardiola. It has become slow and it has become old. What they need is more like Eze. However, he does not need them now.
The 26-year-old was a city goal last year, and maybe he will be again afterwards. Morgan Gibbs-White would be their favorite choice, but Eze's figures darken those from the Nottingham Forest Man. It is 13 goals and 11 assists for Eze this season, six and 10 for Gibbs-White.
The Oliver Glasner team has a structure, yes, but Eze is the jazz soloist. Why would he want to be lost in the midst of the choir in the city? See what happened to Jack Grealish. From Roy van de Rovers in Aston Villa to Roy van de Rovers returns in Manchester – too carefully, too functional. He has won medals, but his free spirit is placed under lock and key. Eze to City would feel a similar trade.
And where was rough here when his team needed some personality to break down the everyday approach from their approach? He was sitting on the couch. Even when Guardiola tried to inject some creativity, he turned to a debutant for Grealish. Claudio Echeverri, 19, had not even been in MatchDay -Squadrons since he had arrived from the river plate in January. Grealisk could only stare in the distance when the Rookie was introduced. Phil Foden also only came 14 minutes of time and did nothing.
Eze should consider the above when making his next step, if there is one this summer. A player with magic in his boots should only play where magic wacks are allowed. A player who can release spells does not need his sorcery in a box. It should be a risk, not retention. Perhaps it is the best phase for him as the leading man in Palace.
Because without him their season would have had his fairy -tale end. Don't forget, it was he who brought them on their way to victory in the semi -final. Players such as Eze were made for these occasions. In the same way as Stanley Matthews and Michael Owen have bent this final to their will – Eze has the touch of that screenwriter.
He, like everyone else in Wembley, had seen City sleep the ball for the one -hour opening quarter. His only involvement was a interception and a few short steps. But then the ball and the stadium opened their eyes. Palace Brak and Eze knew where to go – the penalty area. Daniel Munoz crossed and Eze showed a greater need than Any in Sky Blue to meet the delivery. The goal was just as much about that desire as the quality of his volleyed finish. He has that in him, an artist who can still win a street fight.
There were a few strokes when he brought color to Wembley's canvas, but he needed a chisel as much as a brush. There were five recovery, four matches won and three interceptions. Thomas Tuchel would have noticed how Eze Flair married Vuur. The danger for Eze is that Guardiola would have noticed it too. But to give that jazz soloist a spreadsheet and ask him to play the percentages would be a crying shame.
Just like Grealishe and perhaps even myths needed from the city, Eze does not need. He must be for both when Tuchel chooses his next XI. Is there on shape, is there an English attacking midfielder who comes close? Not Cole Palmer. Not Jude Bellingham. Gibbs-White, perhaps, but his goal against Leicester broke a scoreless run of 16 games last weekend.
Eze is the man of the moment and he has the winning goal in a FA Cup final to prove it. The audience still pants when he gets the ball. Let's hope it stays that way.