My Hard Work Is Paying Off, Says Crystal Palace Forward, Wilfried Zaha

After Wilfried Zaha’s stunning strike against Norwich City was named the Premier League goal of the Month for February on Friday, the Crystal Palace forward he’s happy to be rewarded for his hard work, saying: “I’m working hard and it’s showing.”

Cote d’Ivoire forward’s excellent form – which also saw him nominated for Player of the Month – was capped by a sumptuous goal at Carrow Road.

Receiving the ball on the left from Michael Olise, Zaha cut inside and unleashed a thundering effort into the top corner, leaving Angus Gunn in goal with no chance.

The strike earned the club’s Goal of the Month award earlier this week.

“I’m just happy I’m scoring goals, and getting the recognition for it is the best thing ever,” said Zaha on receiving the award.

“I just like to work on myself, and at the same time when I work on myself, I tend to prove people wrong.

“I was labeled as someone who has no end product. From no end product to 56 Premier League goals – I’m just happy that my hard work is paying off. I’m happy to be receiving the award.”

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Zaha has been in great form scoring the winner in the 2-0 win against Wolves last week. The second-half in particular was a battle but he and his teammates did well to secure the points.

The winger scored Palace’s second with a well-taken penalty won by Jeffrey Schlupp and troubled his hosts for over 90 minutes.

Speaking after the game, he explained what Palace got right at Molineux: “We knew we had to have a fast start. I’m happy we managed to take the lead and kick on from there. It was a difficult game.

“It was mainly the team performance. In the second half they put on pressure and pressure and we had not to cave in. I think the fact we worked so hard together managed to get us the three points today.”

Then asked how he felt he and Michael Olise performed, with the pair enjoying space on their respective wings, Zaha outlined why Jeffrey Schlupp aided them, and how Palace are an attacking threat across the team.

“The main thing is Jeff’s movement on the inside,” he said. “So once where he moves I do the opposite and it gives me a bit of space. It worked today.

“You’re seeing what Michael’s doing on the far side so it’s nice we have so many different options and so many different players that can impact the game. It’s an enjoyable team to be a part of.

“We just have to keep our heads down and take every game as it comes, because there’s no easy game in the Prem. I literally feel like I ran the whole half and didn’t touch the ball! So it’s hard work but we need to keep doing what we’re doing.”

Palace gaffer Patrick Vieira said of the Norwich goal: “That was obviously a fantastic goal, a wonderful goal. This is Wilfried Zaha at his best. This is what we need, what we want from him.

“We know he’s capable of delivering for the team and we want him to do it more often. He has the personality and ability to do it. We want him to do it more often with the support of the players around him.

“He has to score more because of his ability to do so. He’s a player I believe with his ability can create more and score more. It will not be him by himself; he needs the team around, the performance, and the chances created to put him in a situation to express his talent.

“When I talk about him doing more it’s not about him as an individual – it’s about using the players around him, the way we play, the chances we create.”

“He’s under contract, so that means he is happy to wear the shirt and perform well around the team,” Vieira said. “What is good for him is to have players around him taking responsibility and that’s taken off some of the pressure on his shoulders.

“We have players who can score, players who can deliver and the positive is we’re having a team performance. That allows him to express himself and that’s good for him and the team.

“I think people always remember the last penalty. But when you look at his record on penalties it’s been really good, so there’s no reason we should change,” Vieira added.