- Mateta speaks on relationship with Palace fans
- Aims for the end of the season
- Staying focused despite career milestones
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta sat down with UEFA to discuss his career, time at Palace, and the side’s aims ahead of their Conference League semi final this week. Mateta’s season has been turbulent, a portrayal of his four years in South London, but his recent return to the side has proven beneficial to Oliver Glasner.
After his forced move to AC Milan fell through due to a failed medical, Mateta had some making up to do with the Palace faithful. His season at Palace has added to that turbulence. Despite scoring thirteen goals across all competitions, he has been criticised for missing chances and costing Palace points in the Premier League.
He’s underperformed his expected goals by approximately six in all competitions, but has been at the centre of multiple positive results. Most recently, Mateta scored a brace against Newcastle in a 2-1 win.
Mateta on Palace fans
Speaking with UEFA ahead of Thursday’s game, the French International showered praise on his fans, and expressed his gratitude for the relationship he has built with them.
“I believe the fans act like this with me because when I score, they’re happy and they shout “Boom!”, but even when there are throw-ins during a game, when the referee makes a wrong decision or maybe there are fouls, I speak with the fans.”
Mateta’s reputation as a joker is one provoked by his actions on and off the pitch. His consistent waving to the crowd, complaining to the officials and trademark hand-on-wrist when an opposition ‘keeper is taking longer than a matter of seconds to take a goal kick all contribute to his status at the club.
“Even during the game, you know, I ask them to keep shouting. So I think it’s normal they do the same when I score, they return the favour.”
Of course referring to his iconic ‘boom’ celebration, Mateta shedded some light on the reasoning for his addiction to drop kicking corner flags.
“I think it’s important for a forward to have his own goal celebration. Growing up, I watched a lot of videos of Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], and I remember once when he was at Milan, he kicked the corner flag. I thought, ‘I would like to kick the corner flag one day too’. Since then, I’ve just kept on doing it.”
And that he has. JP has scored a fantastique 59 goals in a Palace shirt. The echoing cry of ‘Boom!’, accompanied by the sound of Vengaboys is a development to his celebration that began off the back of a club interview.
“I asked the fans to go ‘Boom!’ They do it now and it’s wonderful. If I speak to you [the fans] during the entire game, I ask you to support me, so then when I score it’s just crazy.”
Mateta on his season and aspirations
Whilst this campaign has certainly been a mixed bag, Mateta was rewarded with his first call-up to the French senior team. At 28-years-old, it’s fair to suggest that Mateta’s career has been somewhat of a late bloomer, especially when considering his form and performances when he first signed for Palace.
“I don’t know whether I’m more patient, but either way, I’ve worked hard over the years, and I still work hard. Now that they’re talking about me, I’m happy, but the most important thing is to keep moving in this direction and delivering better results.”
When asked about his French debut, he remained focused on the present.
“When you look at how fast football moves nowadays, you don’t really have time to stop and contemplate everything you’ve achieved. You need to keep going until your career is over before you can take a step back and assess everything you’ve done.”
That focus is something Palace fans will be pleased to hear. Although Mateta may well move on from South London in the Summer, there is still time for him to extend his legacy as a Palace player.
“We’re already very happy to have made it through to the semi-final,” he noted. “It’s an important step. We’re going to take this semi-final very seriously. It’s very significant and we’ll fight for the trophy.”
Similarly to the situation of Oliver Glasner, Palace’s No.14 will be hoping to go out with a bang this Summer.
