Joe Ledley Exclusive: The exclusion from the Europa League would be a disaster, hope they sort the mess out. I am surprised Crystal Palace won FA Cup

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

Capital Football have exclusively spoken to ex-Crystal Palace midfield Joe Ledley ahead of Belgium-Wales in Brussels on Monday. Ledley spent three seasons at Selhurst Park between 2014 and 2017. Directly from the press box at the Heysel Stadium we've touched on topics such as the possibility of Palace being excluded from the Europa League, the FA Cup triumph, Adam Wharton, Wilfried Zaha and... last but not least Joel Ward.

As a former Crystal Palace player are you surprised about how far the club has come since your exit in 2017? They’ve won the FA Cup, regularly established themselves in the top 10 and now attract top talent while being able to hold on to their prized assets longer than in your time…

“Obviously I am quite surprised [they won the FA Cup] but when I look back we actually went to the final in 2016! We got close trying to win then but then managed to lose against Manchester United. Having won the FA Cup is fantastic for the club and for south London. Their hard work and dedication has paid off. And for the people what they achieved is magnificent. I think you’ve seen it all on social media and the way they celebrated was just brilliant, the way they went through with the open top bus…

For me I still look at Palace, I still follow em and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play for them in the Premier League! It’s fantastic to see what they’re doing and I congratulate them.”

You lost the 2016 FA Cup final…were there any fears going into the showdown against Man City that history could repeat itself?

“Not many people would [expected Palace to win] but with the way Man City have come across this season, it hasn’t been great the way they have been playing! They have been very sloppy in defence with some defeats as well along the way. I think it was a great opportunity for Palace to win it. But in the back of your mind you always have a bit of doubts because it’s nearly 10 years since we lost the final and maybe  it’s gonna be one of those days again when we’re not gonna do it! For me I think there would have been a little bit of doubts with the fans and the people around it but credit to Crystal Palace, it’s fantastic.”

Nobody probably deserved winning the FA Cup more than your ex teammate Joel Ward I guess?

“Brilliant Wardie! His determination as a player, very hard working, sets example around the training ground and on and off the pitch. I was over the moon when he won and obviously to finish on a high note like that is remarkable! Congratulations to him and his family.”

Wouldn’t it be a disaster if they are expelled from the Europa League due to the co-ownership conundrum with John Textor who owns around 45% of Palace and 90% of Lyon who qualified for Europe thanks to PSG’s Coupe de France win…

“It would be [a disaster]. The fans won’t be happy but not just them, obviously the players as well. And the management because you attract better players if you have the opportunity to play in the Europa League and abroad. It would be a nightmare but it’s down to the chairman and to everyone involved now to try and sort the mess out. Hopefully we will see Crystal Palace in Europe because it’s a fantastic place to go Selhurst. It’s a great atmosphere, everyone on top of each other...so yeah fingers crossed it all gets sorted and we will see the Eagles in Europe!”

Who apart from the obvious candidates like Eze and Mateta has been the single most impressive player last season?

“Adam Wharton I think has been fantastic. I’ve seen him in the semis and in the final and I thought he was a fantastic player. He’s still very young and learning the game but for me I think he’s been outstanding. He’s gone a little bit under the radar but a lot of Crystal Palace fans are excited with the way he’s pushing on as a kid.”

Can the ex-Blackburn man go all the way to the top?

“Yeah, I think so. I think he’ll be in the England team soon. It’s a strong position for England to push on these young kids in central midfield. I think there’ll be a lot of interest in him this season or the season after.”

PSG won the Champions League with Mbappé, Spurs the Europa League without Kane…and Palace the FA Cup without Zaha…do you think Wilfried, who made 458 appearances for the club and ranks third in the all-time list, would have been happy to see his ex-club triumph without him?

“He’ll have been over the moon but obviously probably he’d have wanted to be involved in that and won. He was a fantastic player for Crystal Palace. He was magnificent the way he manipulated the ball and ran at players…but I think for Zaha the way I know him and supporting the club…I think he’ll be over the moon!”