Interviews

Potter hopes there's more to come from Maupay

Head coach backs striker to build on his stunning goal against West Ham.

By Bruce Talbot • 03 December 2021

By James Boardman
Neal Maupay has five Premier League goals so far this campaign.

Graham Potter hopes Neal Maupay can ‘kick on’ after his stunning equaliser earned Albion a point against West Ham.

Maupay, 25, scored his fifth goal of the season in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at the London Stadium - his first since the draw at Crystal Palace in September.

Asked what the goal would do for Maupay’s confidence, Potter said, “It won’t do it any harm, that’s for sure. It’s lots of things. There’s the goal but it’s also the fact he has come through and dealt with the criticism, the pressure and he has responded.

12:20

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Potter's Southampton press conference

“It should give him a lot of pride, because it’s not easy as we think it might be. He’s a footballer, but he’s also a human being. So, it’s nice for him to come through that and score. Hopefully he can kick on from there.

“The challenge in this league and as a forward is you can go games without. I can name players of higher profile than Neal who have gone without goals. So, it’s just the nature of the competition and how you deal with it as a human being.

“It’s a process you have to go through to become a better player and person and that’s what we have been helping him with.”

Maupay’s bicycle kick was likened to a similar effort by Alireza Jahanbakhsh, also against London opposition on the first of the month when he equalised against Chelsea at the Amex on 1 January 2019.

10:02

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Extended PL Highlights: West Ham 1 Albion 1

“They were both nice moments, I don’t like to compare, but when I look back they’re two really nice goals,” added Potter.

“Ali’s was a bit more dynamic in terms of his movement, but I was right behind Neal’s so I could see it from the connection and it was a fantastic finish. I will sit on the fence and say I like them both!

“I haven’t seen Neal practice those bicycle kicks to be fair – maybe that’s the trick, don’t practice them at all and put those spectacular finishes away! Often instinctive finishes are not necessarily the easier ones.”