Against Manchester United on Tuesday in the EFL Cup fifth-round, Jordan Ayew led Crystal Palace for the first time. Ayew’s career at the club reached a turning point with this, underscoring his rise to prominence since joining them five years ago.
Ayew was named captain for the game at Old Trafford as a result of his persevering efforts and commitment to the club, which gained him the respect of his teammates and manager Roy Hodgson. Ayew showed his dedication on the field despite the fact that Manchester United won the game 4-0 and Crystal Palace lost.
Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro scored goals for Manchester United in the first half of the match, and Anthony Martial added another in the second.
Ayew’s effort wasn’t overlooked because he committed four fouls, making him the most fouled player on the field. Despite the fact that Ayew has yet to score a goal for Palace in the 2023–2024 season, he was chosen as the team’s Player of the Month for August.
The EFL Cup, currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout competition in men’s domestic football in England.
In the same vein, ace sports commentator Peter Drury has reserved special praise for Ghana’s Jordan Ayew over his consistent work rate for his team, Crystal Place.
During the match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal, the Premier League commentator expressed admiration for the performance of Jordan Ayew.
Ayew demonstrated his diligence and dedicated approach to the game, making a significant contribution to the Eagles’ efforts, despite their unfortunate defeat. “One of the most selfless players you are likely to see. Wears a number nine but no way glory hunter,” Drury remarked.
Notably, Ayew played a pivotal role in securing a numerical advantage for Palace, drawing a foul from Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu, which resulted in the latter’s dismissal from the field. Drury’s commentary reflected his appreciation for Ayew’s selflessness and team-oriented mindset, which stood out despite his position as a number nine forward, typically associated with goal-scoring.
In August 2018, on the day of the transfer deadline, Ayew was enlisted by Crystal Palace on loan for the 2018-19 season. He made his debut on September 1, 2018, in Palace’s 2-0 defeat to Southampton. On September 15, he exhibited an impressive performance against Huddersfield, providing the assist to Wilfried Zaha’s goal, thereby securing a 1-0 victory for Palace.
Ayew was lauded for his pressing and hold-up play, which facilitated the involvement of other players and provided the other attackers with opportunities to create chances.
