Friday 8 May 2015 17:01, UK
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has a point to prove against former club Manchester United this weekend, writes Nick Wright…
When Wilfried Zaha signed a permanent deal with Crystal Palace at the end of the winter transfer window, you can bet May 9 was a date at the forefront of his mind.
Zaha made just two Premier League appearances during his ill-fated stint at Manchester United, and on Saturday at Selhurst Park he will be desperate to show his former club they were wrong to let him go.
The young winger, Sir Alex Ferguson’s last signing as United manager, arrived at Old Trafford amid high expectations after his dazzling performances in the Championship helped Palace to promotion, and earned him two England caps, but 18 miserable months later he was sold back to his boyhood club for a fraction of the price.
While United chalked it off as a costly mistake, Palace are still celebrating a shrewd piece of business. Zaha struggled to make much of an impact under Neil Warnock on loan in the first half of the season, but the 22-year-old is finally getting his career back on track under the guidance of Alan Pardew.
Trust
The former Newcastle manager has lifted Palace from 18th to 12th since his appointment in January, and Zaha has been one of the main benefactors, starting 13 of 15 games under Pardew compared to eight of 18 before him.
“I have trust in him and he has trust in me,” Zaha said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph last month. “When he says he will do something he will do it. This gaffer understands that I am not going to get everything right, that it’s my job to create and try and take on people.”
Zaha is a maverick talent with a high-risk playing style whose strengths lie in his explosive pace and trickery. He was never trusted to deliver at United, where he was also accused of having a bad attitude, but Pardew has embraced his unpredictability – and it is starting to pay off.
With Zaha and Yannick Bolasie rampaging on either flank – as they did to devastating effect during Palace’s promotion from the Championship – the Eagles won seven of Pardew’s first 11 league games in charge.
That run started with what Pardew described as an “electrifying” cameo from Zaha in a 2-1 win over Tottenham in his first Premier League game in charge. Finally, Zaha had the arm around the shoulder that he needed.
“The gaffer brought strategies,” said Zaha. “There is that side of the game but also simple things like putting your arm around people and speaking to them. We are not robots. We go out there and do our jobs but at the same time we have feelings as well.”
Confidence
Those comments suggest he might have lacked the gumption to make it in a big club environment, but Pardew has worked hard on restoring his confidence after his painful spell at Old Trafford.
“There are two things with him,” Pardew noted after Zaha grabbed a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over QPR in March. “Firstly I don’t see him smiling enough and secondly he takes everything like a massive disappointment. That’s a player who has been damaged. What I mean by that is if he doesn’t get a pass, he can have a little sulk – not for long, just for a couple of seconds, but that’s enough in the Premier League for something to happen. I’m saying this publicly because I think it’s important that he understands he needs to get rid of it.”
They were strong words from Pardew, and the stats prove he has succeeded in coaxing Zaha out of his shell. Only eight players have completed more than Zaha’s 76 dribbles in the Premier League this season – a list which includes Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez and Raheem Sterling. His final ball needs work – he only has three assists all season – but he is capable of breathtaking moments of skill and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville insists he has time on his side.
“He was a little bit raw at United and it was too early for a move,” the former defender said while commentating on Crystal Palace’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Sunday. “Things like playing the right ball forward he could work on, but that’ll come with age. He’s still young.”
The defeat to Chelsea was Palace’s third on the bounce since they thumped Sunderland 4-1 last month, but Zaha produced one of his best individual displays of the season up against Branislav Ivanovic.
Chelsea fans are used to watching Hazard dance around defenders at Stamford Bridge, but on Sunday Zaha took centre stage in the skills stakes, completing seven dribbles in total – five more than the Blues' brilliant Belgian. Jose Mourinho's side held out to clinch the title, but few players have given them as much to think about as Zaha this season.
Things like playing the right ball forward he could work on, but that’ll come with age. He’s still young.
The youngster appeared to be overawed by his surroundings at United, but a confident performance against the new Premier League champions is a timely boost as he prepares to face his former club. And with Van Gaal’s side also on a winless run of three games, Palace will be hoping to claim another big scalp at Selhurst Park.
Incoming Dutch star Memphis Depay will likely take the spot Ferguson had earmarked for Zaha in United's team, but the south London lad has shown he too is moving on. Pardew says he was “damaged” by his time at Old Trafford. Now he must inflict some damage of his own.
Watch Crystal Palace v Manchester United on Sky Sports 1 HD from 4.45pm this Saturday
