- Olivia Buzaglo explains viral Jean-Philippe Mateta interview
- Crystal Palace striker caused a massive response
- Buzaglo amused
Jean-Philippe Mateta went viral last week after a post-match interview following Crystal Palace’s 3-0 win over Fiorentina. His exchange with talkSPORT’s Olivia Buzaglo ignited a massive reaction from fans and even pundits.
The French striker had his arm around Buzaglo when he reflected on Palace’s famous victory over the Italian side. But some suggested he was a little too friendly during his interview with TNT Sports.
That was the verdict of Buzaglo’s talkSPORT co-hosts Ray Parlour and Alan Brazil. They were shocked, and Brazil even suggested he’d “seen worse arrests.”
Olivia Buzaglo: Having a Bit of a Cuddle
Buzaglo has given her thoughts on the interview aswell as the response it received from the football world. She said on today’s show:
“We are all having a little cuddle here it looks like. Basically the whole world just went absolutely mental over absolutely nothing.”
Mateta scored the opener from the penalty spot in the win against Fiorentina. Buzaglo alluded to his high spirits following the game:
“Anyway, JP was in a very good mood. He came over. What everyone didn’t see was he put his arm around me, put his arm around Tyrick Mitchell as well. So we were all standing there having a bit of a cuddle. And then when the camera came, obviously he just had his arm around me.”
Mateta hasn’t commented on the interview’s reception, but he made headlines. Many made light of it at the expense of Buzaglo’s partner, Tom Garratt, who is a presenter on the Pitchside podcast.
Buzaglo: ‘He can’t hear me’
Buzaglo added that it was a “lovely interview” and pointed out that Mateta’s size made it look a certain way:
“Twitter, or X, went crazy with it as they always do. And then the talkSPORT edit, whoever made that absolutely stitched me right up! It doesn’t help that Mateta’s 6ft4in, I’m 5ft2in. He can’t hear me because the Palace fans are really loud. So he’s leaning in as well. “
She added:
“But it was a lovely moment. It was lovely. It was a lovely interview. There was nothing in it. And thank you for everyone for going mental over absolutely nothing. So that was the situation.”
Mateta’s good mood continued on the weekend as he scored a brace in Palace’s 2-1 comeback win over Newcastle United on Sunday (April 12th). He’s hitting form at the right moment as the Eagles’ European adventure continues.
