Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has made a startling admission about life after Wilfried Zaha's departure, revealing how the Ivorian's exit forced a dramatic evolution in the Eagles' attacking approach.
In an exclusive interview, the French forward opened up about the void left by Palace's legendary winger, who bid farewell to Selhurst Park last summer after eight years of service to join Galatasaray.
A New Era for Palace Attack
"When Wilf left, everything changed," Mateta confessed. "We lost our main man, the player everyone looked to when we needed something special. It was scary at first, but it forced us to grow up quickly."
The 26-year-old striker explained how Zaha's absence created both challenges and opportunities for the remaining attacking players. Rather than relying on individual brilliance, the team had to develop a more cohesive, collective approach to goal-scoring.
Thriving Under Glasner's System
Since Oliver Glasner took charge in February, Mateta has experienced a remarkable resurgence, netting an impressive 13 goals in his last 13 appearances. The Austrian manager's tactical system appears to have unlocked something special in the former Mainz forward.
"The manager has given me confidence and a clear role," Mateta revealed. "We work on movements, positioning, and being more unpredictable. It's not about one player anymore - we attack as a unit."
From Bit-Part Player to Main Attraction
Mateta's transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Once considered a peripheral figure, he's now established himself as Palace's primary goal threat, forming devastating partnerships with Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
"Last season was difficult," he admitted. "I wasn't playing regularly and when I did, it was often late in games. Now I feel trusted, and that makes all the difference."
The statistics tell their own story: Mateta has already surpassed his previous season's goal tally and shows no signs of slowing down as Palace push for a strong finish to the campaign.
Looking to the Future
With Zaha's chapter closed, Mateta and his teammates are writing a new story for Crystal Palace - one built on collective strength rather than individual stardom.
"We miss Wilf, of course," Mateta concluded. "But sometimes you need to lose something important to discover new strengths. We're building something exciting here, and I believe the best is yet to come."
