Crystal Palace's dressing room harmony has been shattered by a furious confrontation between star forward Wilfried Zaha and teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta, with witnesses describing the incident as "nasty" and "disgusting."
Training Ground Tensions Boil Over
The explosive incident occurred following a recent training session at the club's Beckenham training ground, where tensions between the two attacking players reached breaking point. Sources close to the squad revealed that Zaha launched into a blistering verbal attack on the French striker that left other players stunned.
One senior squad member, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters: "It was nasty, really nasty. Wilf just lost it with Jean-Philippe and said some things you can't take back. The atmosphere has been terrible since."
Manager Glasner Faces Dressing Room Crisis
The timing couldn't be worse for manager Oliver Glasner, who is attempting to implement his tactical philosophy ahead of the new Premier League season. The Austrian coach now faces his first major test in managing the fractured relationship between two key attacking options.
Team morale has reportedly plummeted following the altercation, with players divided in their loyalties. The incident raises serious questions about the squad's unity as they prepare for the challenging campaign ahead.
History of Tension Between Palace Teammates
This isn't the first time friction between Zaha and Mateta has surfaced. The two forwards have reportedly clashed previously over on-field positioning and tactical responsibilities, with both players competing for similar roles in Glasner's system.
Mateta, who enjoyed a strong end to last season with 13 Premier League goals, has been pushing for a more prominent role, while Zaha remains one of the club's highest-profile players despite his advancing years.
What This Means for Crystal Palace's Season
The dressing room drama presents a significant challenge for Crystal Palace's ambitions to improve on last season's tenth-place finish. With the new Premier League campaign just weeks away, resolving this internal conflict has become priority number one for the Selhurst Park hierarchy.
Club officials are understood to be monitoring the situation closely, with concerns that the fallout could affect performances on the pitch if not resolved quickly.
