Former Crystal Palace star steps up to the plate to help stuttering Chelsea defender to a second clean sheet

By Alessandro Schiavone at Stade Roi Baudoin, Brussels

Nations League Matchday 2

Belgium 0-1 France

Goal: Olise 88'

Defender Maxence Lacroix has started four games for Chelsea this season and has had to watch on as the opposition scored a staggering 10 times.

Remarkably, he has been a crucial cog in France keeping back-to-back clean sheets against Turkey and Belgium in the Nations League in the past four days.

Newspaper L’Équipe, something of a footballing Bible in France, described his performance as “flawless”, “globally solid” and “displaying good timing”.

Yet the last 10 minutes could have been a potential mark against him. Lacroix looked a little rattled late on and had to be bailed out by Mike Maignan.

The Milan goalkeeper, who was on Chelsea’s radar in 2025, blocked Lukebakio’s shot after Lacroix was late to Youri Tielemans’ through ball.

In the end, France ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Michael Olise’s sumptuous low curler two minutes from time.

Incredibly, Crystal Palace started winning trophies after Olise’s switch to Bayern Munich and Lacroix’s arrival from the Bundesliga in the summer of 2024.

Who knows, they may not have enjoyed the same degree of success had Olise stuck around as every single Eagles player stepped up their game to help fill his void. Some surpassed themselves and grew into bigger stars such as FA Cup-winning hero Eze who took over his baton.

Overall unity, togetherness and an even stronger work ethic emerged after the ex-Reading prodigy joined Bayern Munich for £60million.

But Lacroix and his Chelsea teammates will have to lift the quality of their displays at Stamford Bridge if Xabi Alonso’s side are to get back into the mix for the Premier League title.

And clean sheets, an alien word at the minute in SW6, will go a long way towards achieving that.

But Fofana and Colwill have to emulate Jacquet and Upamecano for that to happen. Because no one can do anything on their own.