Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix has had his say on Eberechi Eze’s Premier League title triumph with Arsenal
Maxence Lacroix admits it’s “special” for Eberechi Eze to lift the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park. But he does not want his former team-mate to enjoy the occasion too much.
The central defender said as the two teams prepare to bring the curtain down on their domestic season ahead of major European finals: “It’s going to be special but I would tell him to not do it [enjoy] too much because it’s our house. He’s not in our house anymore but it’s beautiful for him and I’m really happy.”
The humble Frenchman also revealed he sent Eze, whose career has been littered with a series of surreal moments over the course of the past year, a message following Arsenal’s crowning moment on Tuesday evening.
Lacroix continued: “I sent him a message when I saw Manchester City missed the chance to continue the journey. I was just happy, I was just really happy. Why? Because we spoke a lot about Arsenal, that it was one of his favourite teams.
“He signed for Arsenal, he did a good season and they are in the final of the Champions League. They’ve won the league for the first time in 22 years so it’s beautiful and I’m just really happy for him.”
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Both Palace and Arsenal are expected to rest and rotate as they prepare to face Rayo Vallecano and PSG, respectively.
Lacroix and Eze have also both been handed World Cup call-ups this week and the latter’s inclusion in England’s star-studded set-up comes as no surprise to former boss Oliver Glasner. He always knew that Eze had what it takes to play on the biggest stages.
Glasner said when asked how he feels about his former attacking midfielder winning the Premier League: “It was so easy for us because it was either Eberechi or Marc [Guehi].
“Oh and Michael [Olise] at Bayern Munich, three players I was lucky to manage for different periods. Michael was quite short, Ebs a bit longer and Marc longest, about two years.
“Number one they are fantastic football players but it makes me proud that I could work with such greater people, humble, ambitious, hard working and always trucking to improve.
“When children look at these players, they just see the end product. When you go into a nice restaurant you see a great steak but how this becomes a great steak, that’s interesting. Yes they have fantastic talent and skills but the work ethic, attitude was there every single day.
“Eberechi’s finishing, how many times did he stay behind after training, practicing and practising his shooting. This attitude makes the big stars and that’s why I’m really grateful that I was able to work with these great players.”
Glasner will bid farewell to Selhurst Park following today’s contest. He is expected to speak on the pitch after the game when he will urge the Holmesdale Fanatics to back his team in Leipzig.
Midfielder Daichi Kamada, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is also expected to wave goodbye to south east London.
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