Jean-Philippe Mateta opens up on Millwall horror challenge | OneFootball

Jean-Philippe Mateta has opened up on the horror tackle from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts that left the Crystal Palace forward needing 25 stitches in an ear injury.

Roberts was sent off for a wild high challenge on Palace’s Mateta during Millwall’s 3-1 defeat to the Eagles in the FA Cup earlier this month. The goalkeeper’s reckless challenge saw Mateta substituted and taken to hospital for stitches in a nasty wound.

Despite the severity of the collision and cut, Mateta has revealed how he had wanted to continue in the FA Cup tie. However, the Frenchman has admitted that he was not privy to the extent of the gash. He will wear a face mask upon his return to action.

“When he kicked me, I was on the floor waiting for him to get the red card. I was good to go. I thought, ‘just get the blood off and keep going’,” Mateta told Sky Sports News.

“I couldn’t feel pain. The blood, for sure. But I thought it was a little cut. My ear was like this [dangling]. But it was not painful.

“From Palace, everyone was texting me and wanted to come to the hospital to see me. The doctor told them it was OK and that I would be visiting the training ground.

“Liam contacted me and texted me while I was in hospital and I told him ‘it is OK it is football’. He apologised. He was worried.”

Roberts received a barrage of abuse on social media for the challenge but Mateta has defended the goalkeeper. He dismissed the notion that there was any malice in the incident and condemned the abuse Roberts was subjected to.

“I don’t think he woke up and thought I want to cut the head of JP,” he said. “There is a lot of pressure. He wanted to do good, too much emotion makes you do crazy things. It was just a mistake. You learn from it.

“It is crazy but you know the fans will react on social media. I didn’t send them to do this.”

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