Timothy Mensah, the Holland international of Ghanaian descent, expressed his gratitude towards Crystal Palace, where he spent the 2017/18 season on loan.
The 24-year-old, who currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen, made 24 appearances for the Eagles before returning to Manchester United for the following season.
During his 10-month tenure at Selhurst Park, he experienced the ups and downs of top-flight football, enduring the pressure of the club’s unwanted English league record of no points or goals from their opening seven games.
However, he also enjoyed the team’s climb back up the table under Roy Hodgson and their ultimate survival against the odds.
Mensah praised the fantastic fans at Selhurst Park, who always create a wonderful atmosphere. He also acknowledged the valuable lessons he learned from manager Roy Hodgson and his assistant Ray Lewington, both of whom he holds in high regard.
Furthermore, Mensah expressed his appreciation for the club’s support, as it was during his loan spell with Crystal Palace that he broke into the full Netherlands team and became an international player.
“However, Roy Hodgson came in as manager after four games and I went on to have a good season. The fans at Crystal Palace are fantastic and always create a wonderful atmosphere at Selhurst Park,” he said in an interview with World Football Index.
“Roy Hodgson is a big-name manager in England as he has managed the English national team and I learned a lot from him and his assistant Ray Lewington.
“The club itself is a brilliant club and I really appreciate what the club did for me as that was the season that I broke into the full Netherlands team and became an international player.”
Fosu-Mensah is currently at German club Bayer Leverkusen, having left United two seasons ago and made more appearances for Palace in the league than he did United, 21 to 16.
