admin“He’s Nightmare to deal with and THREAT to our midfield”- Bournemouth Boss Andoni Iraola revealed the Crystal Palace player who ‘touches everything’ and won 11/15 duels yesterday
Crystal Palace battled to a well-earned point at Selhurst Park this weekend, showing resilience as they looked to respond to their first defeat of the season before the international break.
Forward Jean-Philippe Mateta stole the spotlight, netting a hat-trick in a thrilling draw with Bournemouth — one of the most entertaining Premier League encounters so far this campaign.
The French striker twice finished smartly at the back post from Daniel Muñoz crosses before confidently converting a penalty to complete his treble. The 28-year-old even had a golden chance to seal all three points late on but couldn’t make the most of it from close range.
Despite that miss, Mateta’s performance drew admiration from both pundits and opposition manager Andoni Iraola, who described him as a nightmare to defend against — a sentiment echoed by Alan Shearer.
Fresh off scoring on his international debut, Mateta’s stats were outstanding: he won 11 of 15 duels, completed all of his dribbles, crosses, and long balls, and caused constant problems for Bournemouth’s defence.
Speaking to the BBC, Iraola explained the turnaround in Palace’s second-half display:
“They were losing, so they had to be braver and more aggressive. The long balls to Mateta — he was winning everything. With players like Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah running behind, they were really punishing us.”
While Mateta missed three big chances, his overall impact was immense. With his contract running until 2027, Palace now face a crucial decision about his long-term future. By next summer, he’ll be entering the final year of his deal, and if his current form continues, interest from clubs across Europe is inevitable.
Under manager Oliver Glasner, Mateta has become the focal point of Palace’s attack — a powerful, reliable striker with a clinical edge. Allowing his contract situation to drift could invite uncertainty.
Crystal Palace appear to have found their long-term No. 9, and the club must now show ambition by tying him down to a new deal before others come calling.
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