‘I enjoy proving people wrong’ – FA Cup winner Eberechi Eze overcame rejection to become a Wembley winner

BY MAX HALL

Crystal Palace’s FA Cup-winning goalscorer Eberechi Eze has opened up on what drives him to display the fleet-footed trickery he displayed as a boy in five-a-side football cages in Greenwich, on the biggest stages.

The England international produced the decisive moment of finishing class in their 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.

“It’s easy to lose sight of why I’m doing what I’m doing,” said Eze, in a video posted to the Instagram social media site by theofficialezefamily account.

“Why do I run off the ball? Why do I try things? Why am I creative? Why do I do things other players wouldn’t think to do? And the reason is, it’s for the people watching. It’s what you’re doing for the people in the stands and how you can get people off their feet. That’s what football’s about and as long as I’m playing, that’s what I want to do.”

Discussing his switch to Palace from Queen Park Rangers, for £17 million in August 2020, Eze said: “I’m a completely different person to when I joined. Some of the experiences I’ve had along the way have definitely shaped me and matured me and put me in good stead for what’s to come.”

Those experiences included rejection by a handful of clubs at a young age, starting with Arsenal and also including Millwall.

“As a kid, that’s all I knew, Arsenal was everything,” said the 26-year-old.

“Just to be going out wearing an Arsenal badge… ‘I’m the kid that plays for Arsenal’. During that period it was amazing but, at times, it became difficult because, as a kid, your identity becomes almost wrapped up in that.

 “One of the hardest battles I’ve had because of what Arsenal meant to me at the time (was his rejection by them). I’d got tears ready to pour down my face. But all I knew was: ‘Okay, when’s the next trial? When’s the next trial?’

Fulham and Reading did not prove permanent homes while the Lions opted against a professional deal in April 2016.

“After Millwall I went to Bristol,” said Eze. “I didn’t get in. Then to Sunderland, didn’t get in. I can remember lying in my bunk bed, with my brother underneath, and I’m just praying, praying, praying: ‘Just God, please give me this proof’.”

QPR took a punt on the forward in August 2016, with technical director Chris Ramsey, interviewed for the Instagram post, describing the trial as a “last-chance saloon” for the young player.

“There’s a lot of very skilful players that play in the cages that can’t transfer,” said Ramsey. “To be able to transfer that style into 11-a-side football, and into professional football, takes a big skill.”

As the Palace hero put it at the opening of the video montage: “I enjoy being up against it, proving people wrong. If you don’t know now, you’ll learn eventually.”

PICTURE: ALAMY