Neal Maupay has come under huge scrutiny recently, following his penalty miss and subsequent ‘injury’ in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last Saturday.
Having slotted his penalty just wide of the right-hand post, after Connolly was brought down by Liverpool right back Neco Williams, Maupay looked like a distressed man. A few moments later, The French forward seemed to have incurred a hamstring injury, which saw him walk gingerly down the tunnel, with his Albion shirt pulled high over his head.
Maupay oozed disappointment, as his game against the reigning champions was cut short in just the 25th minute. The striker, who has scored 4 goals so far this campaign, has experienced a barren run of form, having not score since the Everton game at the start of October, and his frustration at not being able to kick start his season was apparent.
So, why do Brighton fans think Neal Maupay faked his injury?
The most common explanation for this conundrum is the 24-year-old’s seemingly apparent ‘attitude problem’.
Maupay is a young, French striker who was thrusted into the limelight at 22 years old, in an exciting Brentford team who were rising rapidly to becoming a prominent force in the Championship. Even before this, Maupay was a regular starter for Nice in 2012, while he was aged just 16. I think you can forgive him for having a serious amount of confidence in his ability, which could explain his frustration at not finding the form he’s become so accustomed to.
Furthermore, the training ground spat is still at the forefront of many Brighton fans’ minds. Maupay found himself left out of the squad to face Tottenham, as Maty Ryan and Aaron Connolly were also not included, handing 4th choice keeper Robert Sanchez his first Premier League start against Mourinho’s men. Although the parties involved have not been confirmed, it is possible to assume that these three were at the centre of it all. As a result, Brighton fans are quick to jump on the ‘attitude problem’ as an excuse to push Neal away from the club; not dissimilar to the treatment received by fellow Albion striker Florin Andone.
Personally, I feel as though the flak that Neal Maupay has received is unjustified. Yes, he has his issues, but he’s a young man with an extremely promising future. People may say he’s not good enough, but he’s nearly halfway towards his goal tally from last season in 10 games, and we were all raving about him then, weren’t we?
Maupay may have an intense ego, and he may be too arrogant for his own good. But, if there is one man who can control that arrogance and develop him not just as a player, but as a man, it’s the man at the helm, Graham Potter.