Castagne Hails 'Massive' Win

First Team
28 Apr 2021
3 Minutes
Goalscorer Timothy Castagne pointed to Leicester City's mental attitude as a key factor behind Monday night's comeback 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

- Leicester City recorded a second consecutive Premier League win by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 on Monday evening
- Goals from Timothy Castagne and Kelechi Iheanacho secured victory for Brendan Rodgers' side at King Power Stadium
- Belgian international Castagne speaks to LCFC TV after helping his side remain third in the top flight standings
- He references the importance of gaining three points from every fixture between now and the end of the season

Trailing to Wilfried Zaha's first-half strike, the Foxes recovered quickly after the interval, with Castagne netting his second goal of the campaign ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho's stunning winner sealing all three points late on.

The win keeps City third in the top-flight standings, four points ahead of FA Cup Final opponents Chelsea - who the Foxes still have to meet once more in the Premier League - and seven clear of fifth-place West Ham United with five games to go.

However, Castagne has warned that Leicester must not take their foot of the gas in pursuit of a top four finish, after securing back-to-back wins at King Power Stadium.

"It's massive," the defender told LCFC TV post-match. "It was a very important game today for us to get some points and move away from the teams behind us and that's what we did.

"It was not easy because Crystal Palace played well and we give a cheap goal away so we had to climb back, but we did the job at the end.

"We know that we have to win every game that is coming now. No matter the game, if it's West Brom or if it's Chelsea in a few weeks, it doesn't matter.

"We have to win and we have everything in our own hands. So I think right now we're doing a good job."

The full-back dispatched his chance expertly to fire the hosts level with a powerful first-time effort past Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal, set up by in-form Nigerian forward Iheanacho, who would go on to score his 12th goal in nine games with 10 minutes to play.

Leicester survived a scare when Jaïro Riedewald raced through on goal after beating the offside trap and opted to square the ball to Christian Benteke, allowing Jonny Evans to charge back and make a last-ditch sliding challenge to prevent a certain goal for the visitors. Castagne was also full of praise of his fellow defender's commitment and leadership at the back.

"I'm not going to complain," the 25-year-old joked. "I'm very happy with that (goal), it's good. It gave us a bit more hope and we knew we had time to score the second one. So, yes, it was a good goal, but obviously the three points are very, very good.

"It was very good (Evans' challenge). It's nice to see that he can still spring! He can get the blood flowing a bit in the legs. But no, it was very, very important.

"He's always talking, always giving advice because he has a lot of experience. For the [back] line, it's very good to have him there, and I hope we can keep on playing like that.

"I was about to say 'cross' or something, because I thought he couldn't shoot," the Belgium international added on Iheanacho's winner. "And then he scores like that! It's just crazy. He's just, right now, in another zone. He is in great form, and that's just amazing to watch."

The former Atalanta full-back has enjoyed a successful first season at the Club following his summer move to King Power Stadium, making 28 appearances in all competitions, and is embracing the challenge of competing in an FA Cup Final, as well as fighting to finish the league campaign strongly.

"It's very enjoyable," he continued. It would be very nice, too, to, in the first season, get Champions League and maybe a win in the cup, so we'll see. Everything can go well, but it can also not happen.

"So we have to continue playing like that and then we'll see. But I think for now, we have no regrets. We just have to keep playing like this."