5.5/10 – Crystal Palace rate well in Italian media, one player named ‘the best’

Crystal Palace progressed to their first ever European semi-final on Thursday despite a 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina on the night.

A strong showing in the first leg at Selhurst Park was enough to see Oliver Glasner’s side progress 4-2 on aggregate.

And while their players celebrated on the streets with their fans into the night, the ratings in Gazzetta dello Sport were also kind.

Sarr the best, Riad the worst

The Italian newspaper starts by handing Crystal Palace a 5.5 and Oliver Glasner a six out of ten. The Austrian loses points as Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix picked up injuries and his side ‘lacked the intensity’ from the first leg.

Ismaïla Sarr is named ‘the best’ with a 6.5 rating thanks to his goal from a ‘commanding header’ and a late goal-line clearance at the other end.

The newspaper then names Chadi Riad as ‘the worst’. He was a first half substitute but failed to impress Gazzetta, who say he was less assured than Lacroix and had a rough evening ‘marked by play acting’ and a ‘nasty foul’ on Manor Solomon.

The newspaper hands similar scores to the rest of the defence. Dean Henderson gets a 6, Chris Richards a 5.5, Lacroix a 6, Canvot a 5.5 and Munoz a 6.5. Tyrick Michtell is given a 5.

Lacroix is the man given the most praise, with it stated that Crystal Palace were ‘noticeably more solid’ with him on the pitch.

Midfield sixes all round

In midfield, Adam Wharton is handed a 6 rating, while Daichi Kamada gets a 6.5. The latter is described as a ‘creative orchestrator’ while Wharton’s absence later on was ‘keenly felt’.

Jefferson Lerma gets a five as he only played ‘obvious passes’ and was ‘completely swallowed up’ by Fiorentina’s midfield.

Up front, Yeremy Pino gets a five. He started brightly but ‘faded away’ and was ‘seen no more’ after that according to Gazzetta. Jean-Philippe Mateta, meanwhile, gets a six. The newspaper says he led the line well but lacked a cutting edge.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is given the same score. According to the newspaper, his performance was one of ‘sheer self-sacrifice’ and nothing more.

Positives all round for Crystal Palace

It’s positives all round for Crystal Palace then, despite the defeat. Gazzetta’s scores tell the tale of a side who got the job done and nothing more.

Oliver Glasner’s side now head into their first European semi-final ever, where they will take on Shakhtar Donetsk over two legs. A final against Rayo Vallecano or Strasbourg could follow after that.

Those three side were among the best in the league phase. Strasbourg finished top and the other two in fifth and sixth respectively. It’ll take another solid two leg performance from the Eagles to ensure any further success.

But confidence is riding high, Oliver Glasner appears determined to end on a high too and perhaps provide more dancing in the streets for Palace’s fans in the coming months.