Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has urged supporters to put the summer’s transfer uncertainty behind them and back Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta as both forwards look to get back to their best.
The futures of the two attackers created plenty of noise during the window. Ismaila Sarr, Palace’s player of the year and top scorer last season, was linked with a move away, while Mateta tried unsuccessfully to cancel the final year of his contract in order to leave on a free transfer.
Both players have also had disrupted starts to the new campaign because of injuries.
Parish wants Palace to move forward
Steve Parish believes Jean-Philippe Mateta remains a hugely positive presence around the squad, while acknowledging that Ismaila Sarr has found the transfer situation difficult.
“JP is the most ebullient, happy-go-lucky character you’ll ever meet. He’s such a force for good. For Ismaila, (his situation) is difficult for him to come to terms with. He didn’t like it,” Steve Parish said while talking to The Athletic.
The Crystal Palace chairman also believes the situation may not have been as straightforward as it appeared from the outside.
“Maybe it’s been painted to him in a certain way, which isn’t really the whole story.”
Despite everything that happened, Parish insists both players remain professional and are still committed to the group.
“But they’re professionals and they love the club and their team-mates. They like working with the manager, so it’s all going to be good and the fans can really help that by just putting it all behind us and just supporting the boys when they’re on the pitch.”
With Sarr returning from a groin problem and Mateta expected back from a hamstring injury, Palace will hope both can soon concentrate fully on football.
