Chelsea's new signing Lacroix discussed his impressive statistics from the past two seasons in the Premier League, also revealing the secret behind his strongest abilities.
On the day Lacroix transferred from Crystal Palace to Chelsea, completing this intra-London and intra-Premier League move, we sat down with the new Blues signing to review some figures that explain why he is considered one of England's most outstanding defensive talents.
Last season in the Premier League, Lacroix was the only player with over 50 tackles, over 200 duels won, and over 250 clearances. Since arriving in England in the summer of 2024, he has also been recognized as the strongest one-on-one defender in the Premier League; among players involved in at least 50 such duels, no one could match his 50.5% success rate.
However, when presented with these statistics, Lacroix insisted that the secret to his success was simple.
"I just love defending!" he said with a shrug and a smile, "For a defender, I think it's very important to enjoy defending and to be good in those one-on-one situations."
"I'm happy because there's a lot of hard work behind it, and to be able to produce these numbers, I'm just proud of that.
"Now, I want to show those qualities every day at Chelsea."
The same applies to Lacroix's leadership. At 21, he captained Wolfsburg for the first time on the field, and less than a year later, he was appointed official vice-captain.
Upon arriving in England to join Crystal Palace, he immediately became one of the leaders in the Selhurst Park dressing room. In the 2024/25 season, Crystal Palace lifted the FA Cup, securing the club's first major trophy, and he played a crucial role both on and off the field. The following season, the team also won the Community Shield and the Europa Conference League.
"I'm really proud to show leadership because I think it's very important for a team to have that quality," the 26-year-old continued.
"For defenders, it's also important to be a leader because we are at the back and can see everything on the pitch. So it's crucial for us to take on that role."
The statistics continue. Last season in the Premier League, only one other outfield player, outside the top two teams, contributed more to clean sheets than Lacroix; and no player exceeded his average of 7.2 clearances per game.
In terms of aerial duels won, only 4 Premier League defenders had more than his 119, and his 61.3% success rate is also quite outstanding. While his 1.93-meter height clearly helps, the Premier League is not short of tall players. Lacroix also admitted that his advantage in aerial contests was also due to advice from an unexpected person on his stride and jumping technique.
"I went to a professional volleyball player, and he taught me how they get height in the air. He told me they have a special technique for jumping, and I tried my best to imitate him."
This is typical of the defender's training, preparation, and recovery methods: meticulous attention to every detail, determined to seize every opportunity to continue improving himself and gain an advantage on the field.
"It comes from my mindset, and I also have people around me who constantly push me," he explained.
"I believe that when you do every detail well, you can become the best professional player. So I will try my best to focus on all the details."
Now, with his move to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea fans will have the opportunity to see Lacroix at his best in the Premier League.
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Wellcome to the best club in London