Neal Maupay
Neal Maupay does not want to talk about his goals tally. But he is on to three for the season after thumping a penalty past the formidable figure of Kasper Schmeichel. Maupay set the ball rolling for a momentous win as Albion rode both their lick and the roar going on around them from three sides at the Amex.
Neal Maupay said: “It was such a tough game, especially the last 25 minutes. We suffered a lot. We conceded two disallowed goals – we were a bit lucky at times, but that’s what it takes to win a game. I thought in the first half our plan was clear and we played really well on the ball and off it. We caused them some problems and I thought we deserved to be 2-0 up. They made some changes and changed their mentality, pressed us more. In the end we had to suffer but we were really good as a team.”
Maupay had a flyer last season in terms of goals – only to see the supply dry up. So he is happy to focus on his all-round game.
Neal Maupay said: “That’s three goals in five games but I don’t want to talk about the goals because you can start the season well and then you can struggle with confidence or you can get injured. As a striker it’s hard to be consistent throughout the season so I just take it game by game. I am happy with where we are as a team but there is a lot more to come and we can improve as a team and I can.”
Still, there was time for a joke as well.
Neal Maupay said with a laugh: “We are playing for the Champions League now! I am just kidding. It’s a process to build a team. Two years ago when the manager arrived he brought in a few new players, me included, and it takes time. The Premier League is the best league in the world, it’s not easy at all to win the games and stay in it. Most of the players were here already, we added some new ones and now we’re all on the same page. We’re improving, but we’re only five games into the season, we can’t be too excited or too happy as we’ve got 33 games left. There’s a lot of work to do.”
Maupay knows what is next. A trip to a ground where he scored last time he visited in front of fans. Crystal Palace await at Selhurst Park a week tonight.
Neal Maupay said: “It’s a big derby. It’s one game we want to do well in. I have been lucky enough to play in it and score, just before the pandemic. That is a great memory for me, but we didn’t win. Hopefully this time we can get a bit more, but they have got good players. In the Premier League anything can happen and we need to rest and be ready for our cup game on Wednesday and then we look ahead to the Palace game on Monday.”
Good words. In reality, it seems inconceivable Maupay will play in that cup game – versus Swansea n the Carabao on Wednesday. But he would love a Palace repeat after that first success over the Foxes.
