- Lacroix speaks after 3-0 defeat
- Puts blame to mistakes
- Result shouldn’t be primary focus
Central defender Maxence Lacroix spoke about his side’s loss away to Manchester City on Wednesday night. Palace lost 3-0 at the Etihad in what looked like a slightly distracted performance from Oliver Glasner’s side.
A rotated Palace side fell to a convincing defeat as City continue to pressurise Arsenal at the top of the table, with Palace fans asking questions about whether or not the players were focused on the upcoming Conference League final.
With two games to go until Palace travel to Leipzig, fans would undoubtedly favour a fully rested and fit side going into the final against Rayo Vellacano over a couple of meaningless Premier League points.
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Lacroix’s thoughts
City were not at their very best and still eased to the three points, and Lacroix admitted that it was a tough evening for himself and his teammates. “[It was] quite difficult when you get three goals against an opponent, it’s always difficult. We showed some good stuff but today we were not at our top level, and when you play against these types of teams you have to be better.”
It seems as though Palace may have used up all of their luck against the Citizens a year ago, when they won the FA Cup. With the upcoming chance to make more history in the Conference League, Lacroix was asked if that looming final impacted the side’s application.
“No, I don’t think so. I think we go game by game because we say that if we say ‘okay the Premier League is finished for us we don’t want to play’, we won’t be ready for these really important games.”
“We take all the games really seriously but today you can see that we made some mistakes and we have to accept it, but we don’t also get our chances [against City].
Whilst that may be the case, it certainly appeared that the game was being used as another opportunity for Glasner to ensure his players are up to pace in two weeks time.
The substitutes on the 60th minute felt pre-planned, and the lack of attacking intensity or pressing appeared to be instructed.
The reality is that a team like City can punish you even when you are at your best, so if a rotated Palace side is even slightly off the pace, the result is inevitable.
“I don’t think [that we fell short of our standards]. I think we did good in the intensity but maybe not at the right moments, so we open some space where we don’t have to open space and like I said against big teams you can’t make mistakes.”
Keeping momentum is key
Of course, a loss is not an ideal result for Palace in any game, however the key focus for the next two games in the Premier League is that the legs are kept moving and the players can come through without any injuries.
A winning run would help to build confidence, but on the other hand, Palace know what they are capable of in a final, and will be looking back to last year for any confidence boost that may be needed.
A fully fit Palace squad, in good shape and mind, will be confident of securing a historic win in Leipzig, and so the ultimate aim for Oliver Glasner and his players should be getting through to the 27th with both intact.
