Crystal Palace 3-0 Fiorentina – De Gea: ‘We played well; Three months ago we were in crisis’ | OneFootball

David De Gea delivered a characteristically honest and grounded assessment after Fiorentina suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park, leaving the Viola with a seemingly impossible task in the Conference League quarter-final second leg at the Stadio Franchi next week.

Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News & Content – Free Trial – Click Here

It was a damaging evening for Paolo Vanoli’s side, who gifted Crystal Palace a strong platform in the opening half hour before finding their feet, only to concede a third goal deep into stoppage time that De Gea acknowledged was entirely avoidable.

“The third goal hurts,” the veteran goalkeeper told Sky Sport Italia.

“To concede at the last minute on a cross, it was too easy for them. But this is football, you have to be concentrated for 95 minutes.”

The Spanish stopper was not without hope for the second leg, even if he acknowledged the scale of the challenge.

“It looks difficult but not impossible,” he said.

“We have got to do something amazing, win 3-0, and we have it all to do at the Franchi.”

He did, however, believe the scoreline flattered Palace considerably, pointing to a strong second-half showing and several missed chances as evidence that the tie could have looked very different.

“I think if we had converted one of our chances, everything would have changed. We didn’t, and instead we conceded a third.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: David De Gea of ACF Fiorentina looks on as ticker tape is seen around him during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg One match between Crystal Palace FC and ACF Fiorentina at Selhurst Park on April 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

De Gea: ‘Three months ago we were in serious trouble’

Characteristically, De Gea was keen to frame the result within the context of a season that has been far from straightforward for Fiorentina.

“We must not forget that three months ago we were in serious trouble,” he said.

“The team is doing better in Serie A, it might not seem like it, but getting out of the situation we were in is something impressive. We have achieved nothing yet and still have work to do there.”

Asked about the gap between Serie A and the Premier League, with Fiorentina losing 3-0 and Bologna falling 3-1 to Aston Villa on the same evening, De Gea was candid but measured.

“The Premier League is ahead of Serie A, but they also have a lot more money, better infrastructure and they do things very well,” he said. “But other than those first 20-30 minutes, where we had the wrong approach and conceded two goals, I think we played well and deserved to score tonight.”