Maxence Lacroix: Crystal Palace’s mainstay a European leader | OneFootball

Crystal Palace’s ‘Mr. Reliable’, Maxence Lacroix (25), has been a mainstay this season. The Frenchman has played every single minute of the Premier League side’s season; 22 games, 22 starts, 22 90 minutes.

Lacroix has played a key role under Oliver Glasner, both in Europe in their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign and in the Premier League. No player in Europe’s top five leagues has registered more than the former Wolfsburg centre-back’s 1980 minutes in all competitions.

It is an important season for the Frenchman, who retains hope of playing in the FIFA World Cup next summer. “The France national team is a dream, especially with the World Cup coming up. You want to be a part of that adventure. I watch all of the squad announcements with the hope of being called up,” he told L’Équipe last week, ahead of Crystal Palace’s UECL match against RC Strasbourg Alsace. 

Lacroix adds that he believes that featuring in the Premier League and “facing the best strikers in the world every weekend” gives him the best chance of earning a place in Didier Deschamps’ plans. And an ever-present for the Eagles, he looks set to continue doing that between now and the end of the season.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle