Eberechi Eze is back and doing what he knows how to do best; pulling opponents after him and scoring beautiful goals. He netted one of such beauties in October against Leeds United to mark his comeback in style. The lone goal in Crystal Palace’s home clash with Leeds United came with less than 10 minutes remaining for the homers to clinch three points.
EZE THE TRICKSTAR
The goal was typical of Eze, who is a trickster, a conman on the ball with a swift turn of pace. He again exhibited style and confidence on the ball. thinking at speed and playing with assurance. He appeared spontaneous, gliding past his marker without a moment’s hesitation to find himself alone with the goalkeeper. Eze coolly slotted in the corner beyond the last man.
The goal was a relief, he said, as he wheeled away in delight at scoring to ignite the stadium and reclaim his place as a player of immense physical and mental gift.
This is not putting down the intelligent match management put up by the gaffer to secure Palace three points.
The No.10 explained the pure adventure and thought process during the goal: “Obviously I’ve gone past the player and it’s just me and the ‘keeper,” he said. “To be calm and be composed is all I wanted to do and I put it into the corner, which is good.
“It’s been a while. We’ve been working hard and putting in the performances and it’s good to get rewarded.”
He said: “We just kept doing the right things… The fans are brilliant. We just work hard so we can get points for them.”
While Palace’s attacking ability may grab the headlines, their defending from the front to ensure victory and shut out a determined Leeds side should also be commended. They controlled the game in the final 10 minutes to move into 15th with victory.
This is Eze’s first goal of the 2022-23 campaign after failing to score in his previous seven matches. Also, it is a perfect response to his unimpressive performance against Chelsea – where Patrick Vieira had to pull him off in the 74th minute for Jeffrey Schlupp. At first, the Eagles were panicky for a while but Wilfried Zaha and co. showed their flexibility once again with a strong attacking display to secure all points.
RESILIENCE
Commenting on the team’s resilience in the closing exchanges, Eze said: “I think when you put in performances like that you want to get rewarded and take your chances, and we did that.
“That’s something we’re working on and have to improve on throughout the rest of the season. But if we keep playing like that and holding out to the end and be strong, and positive, we’ll definitely pick up the points.”
ENDURANCE
That he endured a difficult injury for 12 months, he noted, and returning to full fitness and scoring to give his team full points, made the goal emotional for him.
The Nigeria eligible told Crystal Palace TV how the experience has shaped him.
“I would say it was a learning curve.”
“The first week I was in a boot, so I couldn’t do anything,” Eze explained. “I was just lying on the sofa – I’d lay there until I had to go to bed. I’d go to bed, wake up at whatever time and go back to the sofa. It’s a tough situation because you’re not allowed to do anything. It’s not like I was doing something wrong but I just felt: this is not comfortable; I don’t like doing this.
“I wasn’t prepared at all. I knew it would be tough. To be honest, it took a week or so of just being lost and not sure what to do; what I actually do with myself, and trying to gather myself. It’s a traumatic experience, especially when it’s your first.”
Players often say the isolation and lack of gratification are the most challenging aspects of rehab. The strain comes from months of solo work repeating the same exercises, arriving before your teammates, and being the last to leave.
For Eze that experience was short-lived, as the 23-year-old made a six-month recovery that for some can take 12, coming on against Aston Villa at the end of November. That speed wasn’t incidental.
BACK TO TRAINING
“From the moment I was able to get to the Training Ground, I said from this moment there are no short-cuts, nothing; I’m going to do every single thing because my aim was to get back the fastest anyone had ever come back from this injury.
“[My mindset was]: from this moment I’m going to do everything I can to get back as strong as I can, as fast as I can, without rushing and putting pressure on myself. I just wanted to do everything properly from the get-go.”
“You have to become more resilient and capable of handling things. Difficulties aren’t stuff that stops you anymore, you know they’re a barrier you have to break through and I feel that’s benefitted me majorly.”
DISCOURAGEMENT
“A lot of people can get discouraged by their circumstances and the things people say around them, whereas in my family it was very much: if you believe you can do something, you work for it, continue to have faith in God, and put that first, then you’re capable of achieving anything and becoming what you want to become.
“Setbacks like getting released and injured haven’t fazed me, in that sense, as difficult as they may have been at the time. I’m always aware I’m going to come out on the other side.
“The way I am, I think it’s a huge credit to my parents and family for the way we’ve grown up.”