‘It’s my best week’ – Eagles striker Mateta after Plymouth hat-trick and Wolves win

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Eagles striker Jean-Philippe Mateta had a busy week last week, scoring a league cup hat-trick on Tuesday, being linked to a possible transfer window move away from SE25 and then providing two assists in a 3-2 Premier League win over Wolves on Sunday at home.

That league result at Selhurst Park came courtesy of a double strike from fellow French forward Odsonne Edouard and a goal from Ebere Eze, a victory which pushed Crystal Palace up to seventh in the table.

Not bad going for the 26-year-old Mateta, who only came on as a 71st minute sub and who had only provided one Premier League assist previously, in the 2021/22 season.

“It’s always good to win and make a difference as well. I’m happy. I’m very happy,” said Mateta after the win.

“When we win I love [it] – when we score I enjoy [it]. I celebrate a lot. I feel happy when we score, when we win, the three points. It’s always good.

“It’s my best week, because I work so hard and I think I deserve it.

“[We’ve been doing] work (in training) – combinations in front of the goal. [It’s been] tough work.”

Mateta’s two assists were particularly ingenious, with his second a backheel on the edge of the box, but it was his first, to Eze inside the box, that was particularly skilful, coming off his back.

“Yes, of course,” said Mateta when asked if he had meant the unconventional assist. “The first with my back for Ebs was good. I saw him run in behind and I touch [it] with my back, he scored [with] a good finish.

 “Every day I enjoy playing with him (Eze),” he added. “It’s always good to play with the big players – big players with good quality, international players.”

Palace turned down two bids from RB Leipzig during the transfer window.

 And was there any chance he was going to leave the club?

 “No, I’m with Palace,” he added.