How Jean-Philippe Mateta has behaved in Crystal Palace training after Oliver Glasner benched him.
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Oliver Glasner have made headlines at Crystal Palace lately.
After such a fruitful end to the 2023/24 campaign for the Frenchman, who scored 13 goals in 13 games under the Austrian as Crystal Palace eventually finished tenth, the 2024/25 season has not been as enjoyable so far.
Mateta was said to be upset with Glasner after the 50-year-old benched him for the 0-0 draw against Manchester United, and the £9m man was once again left out of the starting XI in Monday’s 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest, a result which left us 18th in the Premier League.
Position Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Diff Points
18
Crystal Palace
8 0 3 5 5 11 -6 3
Now, it has been revealed how Jean-Philippe Mateta is behaving in training at Copers Cope after the alleged fallout with Oliver Glasner.
Jean-Philippe Mateta impressing in Crystal Palace training
A story from The Athletic now states that the 27-year-old has caught the eye in training recently with some impressive performances at Copers Cope.
Mateta has only scored in one Premier League game out of eight so far this season, netting twice in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City, and is clearly eager to improve his form by knuckling down in training.
It would be easy for the man born in Sevran to down tools given the context.
Not only is the Crystal Palace No.14 struggling to score, but Mateta is also stalling over a new contract at Selhurst Park, so it would be even easier for him to become disillusioned under Glasner after finding himself benched for Eddie Nketiah.
However, the Olympic Games silver medalist has shown a tremendous attitude in putting his personal situation aside to focus on improving his performances on the pitch.
Oliver Glasner must let Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah play together
Strangely, Glasner is yet to start Nketiah and Mateta directly alongside each other in attack.
Eddie Nketiah of Crystal Palace, Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between …
The man from Schärding has preferred to deploy just one central striker so far this season with two support acts in No.10 positions, with Eberechi Eze usually in one spot alongside either Nketiah or Daichi Kamada.
By no means is the £30m signing from Arsenal a wide man – especially not a right winger – and given the fact Mateta has often impressed with his linkup play, it is weird that Glasner has not considered a traditional big man, little man strike partnership.
