- Crystal Palace win the Conference League
- Eagles beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0
- Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the winner
Jean-Philippe Mateta couldn’t hide his elation after Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to win the UEFA Conference League. The French striker scored the winner, just his second goal in Europe this season.
The Palace frontman chose no better night to score his second goal of the Conference League campaign. He took it well, reacting quickly to bury the ball into the back of the net after Adam Wharton was denied from long range.
Oliver Glasner’s men saw the game out and deserved their victory which means they have won their first-ever European trophy. It just had to be Mateta who has encountered a rollercoaster ride of a season.
Mateta – ‘My best boom’
Mateta took a break from partying with his Palace teammates to speak to TNT Sports. He tried getting Joel Ward in on the celebrations and was asked how he felt to score the winner at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig:
“I feel fantastic. I feel fantastic! We did it. First time in Europe, we did it. Now I just want to celebrate, I just want to party.”
Asked whether his ‘boom’ was the best he’s ever done he responded:
“I think so, I think so.”
Mateta admitted he was “tired” due to the energy of the opponents but thrilled to help Palace get their hands on a European trophy. Ward told the Frenchman that he “sets the standards for this club.”
The 28-year-old could have been playing for AC Milan had he not failed a medical in January. When he returned from a knee injury, fans initially weren’t too welcoming.
It’s fair to say his relationship with supporters is well and truly back on track. In fact, he has written his name in the club’s history books and become a hero for the Eagles.
“Do it all over again” – Tyrick Mitchell’s take
Tyrick Mitchell put in yet another performance that served as a reminder of just how ridiculous it is that he hasn’t made England’s World Cup squad. Mr Consistent, he celebrates his first European trophy after winning the FA Cup last season.
The Palace hero spoke to Ward after Mateta and he insisted that the tough season due to a gruelling schedule was all worth it:
“Definitely. Playing 60 games a season, so many of our bodies aren’t used to it. But if it all meant that we got here and won it, then we’d do it all over again.”
Palace’s Conference League journey has been an emotional one, and it’s the perfect send-off for Glasner. He leaves behind a squad that is a group of winners, and Mateta and Mitchell are two of them who have been with him every step of the way.
