Darren Bent explains why fans' theory behind Jean-Philippe Mateta's upsurge in form could be right
07/05/2024 20:52
talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent has explained how one theory about Jean-Philippe Mateta might just be bang on the money.
Mateta has been in electric form since the arrival of Oliver Glasner as manager, scoring nine times in his last 11 Premier League matches.
One distinct change that has been spotted by eagle-eyed fans is how the striker has been tucking his shirt in since his goalscoring run.
talkSPORT pundit Andy Goldstein put to former Premier League forward Bent, who replied: “He looks trimmed down. So maybe by tucking in his shirt, might have gone down a shirt size.
“He might look in the mirror and think, ‘you know what? I am feeling myself here’.
“You look good, you feel good, you play good. Us centre-forwards are weird like that, if we do something and it works…
“Say you tie your boot in a certain way and you’ve scored a goal, you best believe next week I am doing the exact same.”
Mateta gave Manchester United the run-around on Monday night, scoring in a 4-0 win at Selhurst Park where Michael Olise bagged twice and Tyrick Mitchell also netted.
The former Mainz star had struggled for goals prior to Glasner’s arrival, scoring twice in 32 appearances in all competitions last season.
But now he cannot stop scoring with the Austrian coach giving him the responsibility of being the main man up front, something that was no accident, Bent insisted.
The former Tottenham, Sunderland and Charlton star added: “[Glasner] has probably called him into his office after he got the job, he is assessing the players, he has probably watched [Mateta] before.
“So he’s called him into his office and said ‘you will suit the way we play better, you’re getting a run of games now. Score goals, play your football’.
“Sometimes, it can be something as simple as that which triggers everything off.
“It always helps when you get a goal in your first game because that gives you confidence going into the next one.
“The most goals he ever got for Palace in a single season was five. He’s now on 12. He looks completely different, he looks trimmed down, he looks confident.”
Palace, who sit 14th in the Premier League, next face Wolves before ending their season at home against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa.
