As Crystal Palace managed to achieve a 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, there’s a specific reason why the Brazilian media highlighted that game.
The big coverage is because Matheus França, who hadn’t played for Roy Hodgson’s side since October, finally got a few minutes on the pitch again.
It turns out that ESPN Brasil journalist João Castelo-Branco managed to hold an interview with the Crystal Palace manager after the match, and obviously had a couple of questions about the Brazilian player.
The reporter started by asking why França had been missing out on most matches, wondering if that was an adaptation issue.
“I think he’s been adapting. But I think he’s been ready for a while, to be fair. I speak to him very often. He’s worked very hard at his English, his English has improved enormously. I think that he’s become more and more clear what’s required to play in the Premier League,” Roy Hodgson told ESPN Brasil.
“I think that he’s become more and more clear what’s required to play in the Premier League. It’s not just having that wonderful technical ability, there are other things as well, not least of all, you know, being asked, being able to trust him in the defensive aspects of the game, which he did well today. And then, of course, the strength aspect, you know, he’s got to understand it might be a bit harder for him in the physicality of the league.”
Castelo-Branco then asked the manager if the youngster has been showing enough qualities during training sessions.
“He’s always a skilful player, he’s got ability, he was a good spot from us. And you know, don’t forget he’s 20 years of age, I mean, it’s not easy to come as a 20-year-old. He might have found it easier to come into Man City or a team that’s at the top and can afford for him to miss out on something or lose the ball.”
“He’s playing for a team that has got no margin for error, but I think that’s done him good. And I was really pleased for him today. And I’m sure he’ll be pleased and it’s great for us to know that we have this talent who can actually unravel the opposing team’s defence, even if that team is Man City.”
Crystal Palace spent €20m to sign Matheus França from Flamengo back in the last summer.
It took a while for the midfielder to even get a chance to be taken to a game, and it was in October that he had a few minutes against Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Since then, he was only kept on the bench, and finally had the opportunity to enter the pitch again this weekend.
