Jean-Philippe Mateta is delighted with his Crystal Palace team, who consistently displayed a never-give-up spirit throughout the match.

Jean-Philippe Mateta said he was proud to be a part of Crystal Palace's team, given their fighting spirit against Everton. Less than 72 hours after securing their place in the European finals, Crystal Palace quickly returned to a busy schedule, hosting Everton, who are striving for a better Premier League position.  

Crystal Palace twice fell behind in the match, but twice fought back to equalize. Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta each scored, securing a valuable point for their team in a hard-fought contest. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several crucial saves, preventing Crystal Palace from taking all three points, but the team was ultimately satisfied with the draw.  

Jean-Philippe Mateta said after the match: "I still regret the missed chances, but that's the game. We equalized twice, and I think we deserved the point. We just played on Friday, and we wanted to win today, and we almost did, but in the end we only got a point. We always maintain a never-give-up spirit, which is why I'm happy to be a part of this team."  

Speaking about a last-minute missed scoring opportunity for Jean-Philippe Mateta, he added: "Yes, I tried to chip the ball over him, but I felt Tarkowski interfered with me again, and I lost my balance. Yes, I should have scored that one, but I'll definitely take the chance next time."  

Jean-Philippe Mateta also expressed his appreciation for the Crystal Palace fans, saying, "The fans were outstanding as always today, and they gave us tremendous support. Even when I come on, I sing along with them. Yes, they have always been there for us."  

“We have a very tight schedule, all season long. Personally, I like playing a game every three days, which helps me. You can see that we have played more than 20 more games than Everton. Nevertheless, we have maintained our fitness, and I myself did feel tired in the final stages. We want to prove to everyone that we are Crystal Palace, and we never give up.”  

Image source: Internet/Crystal Palace official website