Brighton striker Maupay asked about his words with Palace’s Zaha after late leveller at Selhurst Park
Neal Maupay refused to reveal any details of his verbal exchange with Wilfried Zaha after the Brighton striker salvaged a point at Crystal Palace.
Zaha had fired the Eagles ahead from the penalty spot in the first half. But Maupay produced a last-gasp leveller as he chipped the ball over Vicente Guaita in what proved to be virtually the last kick of the Premier League match.
He celebrated by cupping his ears to home fans, a similar reaction to when Zaha converted.
“Football is nothing without fans and some involvement between players,” Maupay told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. “The atmosphere was really, really tough for us.
“After I scored I smiled at Zaha because I saw him celebrating his penalty in the first half. He gave some to our fans. I won’t say what I said, but you know how it is on the pitch between players sometimes – you give a bit of banter. That was a good time, for me and for us, seeing as we scored in the last minute.
“It was the perfect timing to give something.
“Palace played well and we weren’t so good today. But the resliience of the team was spot on and at the end we scored.
“I knew [how long was left] because before the goal-kick I asked the ref and he said one minute. I thought ‘okay, we might have one more chance, but we might not’.
“The ball went in behind the defender, I saw the ball coming – I believed I could get it – and I scored. I’m very, very happy tonight. Sometimes one chance is all it takes to get something from the game.”
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What a load of rubbish. Palace were all over you! Could only equalize by becoming long ball merchants and a goalkeeper rare error! Your own players don’t agree with your assessment!!!