Crystal Palace have secured their place in the last 16 of the Conference League with a hard-fought victory over Zrinjski Mostar across two legs.
This has been a turbulent time for the south Londoners, who are still reeling from Oliver Glasner's mid-season declaration that he is months away from a new challenge, enflaming a run of poor form and the loss of the skipper, Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City in January for around £20m.
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace career
Guehi may not be an Eagle anymore, but Glasner still has some top centre-halves at his disposal, and Maxence Lacroix stood up and led by example on Thursday night.
Lacroix leads Palace into last 16
With Guehi gone, Lacroix has had to step up as the new superstar in the rearguard. He's not perfect, but the Frenchman is a talented defender, strong in the duel and addicted to hoofing the ball away from danger.
Maxence-Lacroix-Crystal-Palace
Nerves were jangling across Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace kicked things off. Last week, the draw away to Zrinjski left a lot to be desired, as well as keeping the tie in the balance.
But this was a more confident performance, and it was Lacroix who converted after Adam Wharton's excellent delivery to put the hosts in the driving seat before half-time.
That's secured Lacroix's name in lights, and while Evann Guessand sealed the win late on, he will take home the rights to the match ball.
Lacroix takes the plaudits, but he was hardly the only one to have impressed in defence, with one of his teammate emerging as the new Guehi.
Glasner has found Palace's new Guehi
Crystal Palace have probably done enough this season to keep ahead of the relegation dogfight in the Premier League, but they are going to need to regroup if they want to return to the level that Glasner and Guehi and the rest maintained last season.
Lacroix will certainly need some defensive assistance, but he might just have the perfect new partner in Jaydee Canvot, who is really coming into his own after a move from Toulouse in France for around £17.5m last summer.
Crystal Palace's Jaydee Canvot
The teenager has had to bide his time, but he's beginning to showcase extraordinary potential for the Eagles, arguably just as good as Lacroix on the evening, even without a goal.
Journalist Henry Swain said the 19-year-old "was excellent again", and his skill and composure on the ball suggest that he could be the perfect Guehi heir. Indeed, this is a glowing endorsement of the scouting department, who scouted him with the Three Lions star's departure in mind.
Against Zrinjski, Canvot played his role to perfection, instrumental in nullifying the travelling side's attacking threat. Moreover, he helped build passing sequences together and drew plenty of praise online.
Jaydee Canvot vs Zrinjski
Stats
Minutes played
Goals conceded
Touches
Accurate passes
Possession lost
Ball recoveries
Def. contributions
Tackles won
Clearances
Ground duels
Aerial duels
We don't want to say it too loudly, but there really is something Guehi-esque about Canvot, whose confidence and quality on the ball could see him attract his fair share of headlines over the coming years.
Sterner tests are ahead, but the teenager is doing all the right things, and there is indeed something reminiscent of Guehi, whose expertise on the ball has drawn him to the wing of Pep Guardiola, the most revolutionary of on-the-ball managers.
In the Premier League, it's surely worth noting that while Canvot has only started four times, he has kept clean sheets on three of those occasions, most recently of which came at home against Wolves less than a week ago. All told, the France U21 star has won 59% of his aerial duels and is averaging just shy of two tackles per game. This is a prospect of bona fide potential.
The Glasner era is coming to an end, and the departure of Guehi, the skipper, has already kicked off the wind-down. However, Crystal Palace will bounce back, and with a player like Canvot rising to the fore, they might just have unearthed their new version of the respected England international.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner looks dejected after the match Related
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Crystal Palace could now be set for a huge summer of change on and off the pitch.