Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta admits he's pinching himself playing for manager Patrick Vieira.
Mateta says watching French legends like Patrick Vieira as a youngster made him want to move to the Premier League, as he discussed his biggest influences in the game.
“I loved football because my father used to be a footballer," Mateta explained to the club's website, speaking before Palace welcome Chelsea to Selhurst Park. “I watched matches with him on TV all the time.
“That's why I loved football, and I had friends who I played football with all the time. I was playing football and it became a regular thing.
“I was totally addicted to football."
However it was the influence of his countrymen that sparked a fascination with the English game.
“I used to watch the Premier League when I was younger," Mateta recalls. “I was mostly interested in watching the French players, like [Thierry] Henry and our manager Patrick Vieira. So I was always going to watch the Premier League.
“I thought about playing in the Premier League, because I saw the likes of Thierry Henry on TV, Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira, who were all hugely successful here.
“This encourages other French players to come over here and show what they're made of."
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