Crystal Palace began their UEFA Europa League journey in emphatic fashion, beating Lech Poznań 4-0 at Selhurst Park in their first match in the competition.
Yéremy Pino opened the scoring before Chris Richards, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Eddie Nketiah added further goals. With Dean Henderson absent, Adam Wharton captained the Eagles and produced an influential performance in midfield.
Speaking to TNT Sport, Wharton described the occasion as a memorable night for Palace and said the result represented the kind of start the team wanted to make. He also acknowledged that there remains work to do as the squad continues to build connections, with new arrivals still adapting.
Palace played on the front foot from the opening whistle, pressing aggressively, winning possession high up the pitch and creating a series of opportunities. Wharton felt the performance was a significant step forward, while also noting that the team could become more compact defensively.
The midfielder also explained that Pierre Sage’s approach gives one of the two deeper midfielders freedom to move into more advanced areas. Wharton linked up effectively with Quinten Timber as Palace worked on their attacking patterns and combinations.
Wharton believes that aggressive football can create space for Palace’s forwards, particularly when possession is won quickly. He added that taking control early also helped bring the Selhurst Park crowd into the match, an important factor on a special European night for the club.
