Match-winner Jean-Philippe Mateta reacts after securing European glory for Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Frenchman put in decisive performance in Leipzig

Jean-Philippe Mateta was largely lost for words as he reflected on firing Crystal Palace to their first European title.

The Frenchman scored the only goal as the Eagles edged past Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig to cap their first foray into UEFA competition with silverware.

He tapped home from close range after Augusto Bantalla parried Adam Wharton’s long-range effort into his path, and the strike proved decisive.

Speaking at full-time, the striker was full of emotion.

“I feel fantastic! I feel fantastic!,” he told TNT Sports on the whistle.

Jean-Philippe Mateta hoists the Conference League trophy

Getty

Mateta has endured a turbulent season broken up by a serious knee injury, which scuppered his attempts to engineer a move to AC Milan in January.

But he completed his redemption as he scored the decisive goal in the final, and said he was glad to be able to repay supporters’ faith in him.

“It is incredible. We did everything,” he went on.

“I told you about the intensity they would put. I am tired right now. I give everything.

“Jorgen (Strand-Larsen) gave everything, and that is why we won today.”

“I am always with them. They support me as a player a lot and as a team they are always behind us. We do it for them too.”

Crystal Palace will now return to the Europa League, the competition which they qualified for last season after winning the FA Cup, but were demoted from after falling oful of multi-club ownership regulations.