- Crystal Palace beat Fiorentina 3-0
- Jean-Philippe Mateta scored first goal since January
- Chris Richards and Oliver Glasner pleased
Chris Richards and Oliver Glasner were pleased to see Jean-Philippe Mateta get back on the scoresheet after he converted a penalty in a famous 3-0 win over Fiorentina. The French frontman made his first start since failing to secure a move away from Selhurst Park in January.
Mateta pushed to leave Palace in the January transfer window and headed to Paris for a medical on deadline day ahead of a proposed £30m switch to AC Milan. But complications with his knee during a medical meant the Italian giants pulled the plug.
The 28-year-old returned to South London but spent a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. He returned in the Conference League play-offs against Mostar and received a mixed response from fans.
Richards: Mateta is still ‘our boy’
Mateta has since played backup to Jorgen Strand Larsen, who arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers as his supposed replacement in a club-record £48m deal. But the Norweigan striker was suspended for last night’s game.
Oliver Glasner handed Mateta a start and the Frenchman delivered with a 24th-minute penalty. It was his first goal since scoring on New Year’s Day in a 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Richards spoke to TNT Sports after the game and praised Mateta by explaining how he’s viewed in the dressing room:
“No it was good for him. Over the past few months he’s had a tough time with everything that’s happened. He’s still our boy and we still love him like family so I’m glad he could get on the scoresheet today.”
Mateta took his tally for the season to 11 goals in 38 games across competitions. He admitted he had dreamt about last night for many nights.
Tyrick Mitchell scored the second of the night after Mateta failed to beat David de Gea from close range. Ismaila Sarr made it three in the 90th minute to give the Eagles an emphatic win ahead of the second leg next Thursday in Florence.
The 28-year-old’s future remains uncertain despite being reintegrated into Glasner’s squad. There is a chance he will leave in the summer, as he has a year left on his contract.
Glasner echoes Richards sentiment
Glasner, too, acknowledged the difficult past few months Mateta has endured. Not just the controversy that came with trying to move to Milan but also his injury struggles.
The Palace boss told reporters (via Sky Sports):
“He’s scored so many important goals for us. He had a tough period, he was six weeks where he couldn’t hit the ball and couldn’t train on the pitch. He was working really hard to get back and I’m pleased for him.”
Mateta has been at Palace since January 2022, when he arrived from German outfit Mainz in a £12m deal. He has become one of the best frontmen in the Eagles’ modern era and was part of the squad that won the FA Cup last season.
