Crystal Palace attacker Zaha now developing ruthless streak: It's about goals | OneFootball

Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha says his game has matured in recent seasons.

Zaha explained that scoring goals is now his primary ambition on the pitch having developed his game, as he praised Crystal Palace's development under Patrick Vieira.

“Me personally, I don't do as man skills and all that stuff anymore," he said before the Eagles' trip to Molineux to face Wolves this afternoon. “I'm just trying to score goals. That's the main thing.

“Every game my mindset it that I need to try and score, assist or do something so that's what I'm working on instead of just dribbling.

“OK, it's good seeing tricks and stuff on YouTube, but at the end of the day scoring a goal is much more memorable for me now. Getting a nutmeg, my mates high-five me but me scoring a goal helps my team and is more memorable to me.

“I just thought to myself: I'd much rather cut out the stepovers – if I can get a shot off I'll do that."

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Zaha scored two wonderful goals in February, remarkably similar strikes against Watford and Norwich City. He broke down the thought process behind the finishes.

“Before I've taken a touch I'm assessing the situation, getting a yard away from the player," he explained. “This is stuff I practise constantly on the training ground. I've done it so many times on the training ground that I've got to attempt it in games.

“As soon as I hit the ball, I felt that I had got it clean. Sometimes as soon as you hit the ball you know. It's the same with the Watford goal. I've given myself half a yard and hit it clean.

“As soon as I hit both of those shots, I knew. As soon as I hit it, it was a quick glance and then run off! I just knew. I hit it so well that when I lifted my head I saw it hitting the back of the net – job done.

“I'm happy that what I'm doing out there [in training] is paying off on the pitch."