Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner requested Jean-Philippe Mateta cut short his break in the summer, according to L’Equipe.
The striker was part of the France squad that lost to Spain in the Olympics final on August 9th, and the manager wanted him back to prepare for the current campaign.
Mateta has made four appearances for Crystal Palace this season, managing two goals and an assist in the process.
L’Equipe had a detailed chat with the 27-year-old on several topics including winning the silver medal at the Olympics. Mateta was one of the leaders of Thierry Henry’s squad in Paris and has maintained the same role at Selhurst Park.
“The coach sees, as Henry did, that I’m trying to pull everyone up, because I work hard, I encourage everyone to do the same and I constantly repeat that we can beat anyone: City, Liverpool… anyone! Anyone!” he said.
“I only had a few days of rest between the Olympics final and the resumption of the Premier League… And Glasner asks us to chase the opposing teams high, it’s very different from the game we played with France at the Olympics, because we had the ball.”
Crystal Palace appointed the German as their new manager in February. Since then, Mateta has scored 15 goals and registered two assists from 17 matches under his orders. His form in the second half of last season didn’t go unnoticed.
According to L’Equipe, Aston Villa, AS Roma and Napoli all looked at the Frenchman in the summer window. The frontman hasn’t backed up interest from these clubs, but has revealed the Eagles blocked his exit.
“I’m a realistic person: the club didn’t want to sell me. Well, I’m moving on and I’m doing everything so that the team obtains better results than last year. And when it’s time to ask ourselves these kinds of questions [about the future], we will ask ourselves,” Mateta explained.
“In football, you have to adapt quickly, concentrate on the upcoming deadlines and not dwell on the past.”
Mateta’s contract at Crystal Palace lasts until 2026.
