With his imposing physique and towering height of 1.93 metres, Jean-Philippe Mateta (28) is not the sort to go unnoticed on the pitch. A striker often labelled as ‘old-school’, which sets the tone in a modern game of football increasingly focused on excessive intensity. To make his mark, the Crystal Palace player has therefore had to adapt.
Which he has managed to do perfectly, revealing a far more well-rounded profile than the mere ‘fixed point’ that some people imagine players of his type to be. In an interview with L’Équipe, Mateta revealed how he worked to develop the mobility and pace that have now enabled him to become a leading Premier League striker, whilst brushing aside the preconceptions associated with his physique.
“We have to adapt to what football has become. The first player I saw doing that was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He’s tall, agile, and he draws everyone in,” explains the former Olympique Lyonnais player. “I also watch what (Victor) Wembanyama does in basketball because he’s very tall (2.24 m). I do a lot of exercises to work on that agility, such as stretching, core training and yoga. It’s also important for us to work on our backs.”
It’s been a long-term endeavour, but one that finally paid off for Mateta this summer when he was named among the 26-man squad selected by Didier Deschamps for the World Cup. The very definition of giving yourself the means to achieve your ambitions.
GFFN | Léo Aschi