There was a moment after the full-time whistle in Leipzig that Ismaila Sarr found himself briefly alone, draped in the flag of his nation, Senegal.
In those few seconds after the UEFA Conference League final, he could reflect on an outstanding season in which he improved in every way. The most important player for Crystal Palace over the campaign, their player of the season.
Few would have thought after a slow start to life in south London that the 28-year-old would become so integral, but he was open to new ideas, a different way of playing and he has adapted under the guidance of Oliver Glasner.
When Sarr arrived at Palace two years ago from Marseille, he seemed to lack confidence. Now, he is settled at a club and content to do his job to the best of his ability, go to training, play matches and then spend time at home.
That relaxed and humble but intensely dedicated attitude has been reflected in his performances over the past two seasons, but more specifically during the latest one. Sarr deserves to be Palace’s player of the year, just as his team-mates and the supporters voted him.
In defence, Tyrick Mitchell has enjoyed yet another outstanding season and his own attacking ability has progressed more than ever. He pushes Sarr extremely close for the title, but it is the Senegal forward who has contributed the most overall.
Attacking players almost invariably receive more attention as match-winners for their goals and assists or their technical prowess. That much is true of Sarr at Palace, but it is with good reason.
Palace have been deprived of the individual brilliance of Eberechi Eze, who was sold to Arsenal at the end of the summer transfer window. But Sarr has stepped up again.
He did so in a clinical fashion. Almost understated. He made the best runs into the pockets of space, finished chances more often than not, and was in the right place at the right time.
Sarr has stepped up since Eze’s exit last summer (Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
“He’s had a huge impact,” Glasner said after Palace’s 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in April. “He scored eight (Premier League) goals last season, and I predicted him to score double figures this season because last season he arrived late without a pre-season and wasn’t in a rhythm as he couldn’t train or play for Marseille.
“The way we play suits him. He has the confidence and the players around him who give him the passes. He’s always on the front foot and making these runs. He understands where and how to move. It’s not just in attack, he understands what we want from him — sometimes we want him in the pocket, in the gap, dropping out or overloading one side.”
Sarr did not quite hit double figures in a single competition, but he contributed nine goals in both the league and the Conference League, with 21 in total across all competitions and two assists. Those goals were invaluable, and his absence initially through injury in December and then into January due to the Africa Cup of Nations hurt Palace significantly during their 12-game winless run.
He scored in each of the knockout ties in the Conference League except the final, including both goals in the crucial 2-1 win over AEK Larnaca in the last-16 second leg. But for all the impressive work in front of goal, his defensive diligence largely went unnoticed, except by his manager.
In a system that requires attackers to support the defence, Sarr performed his role excellently, which Glasner believes to be equally as important as his goal contributions.
“He’s our best attacking player, always threatening, scoring, getting game in the pocket,” Glasner said before that Spurs victory. “When he started, he was different. Now after 18 months working together, he completely understands how we want to play and now he’s a great pocket player whereas he was just a runner.”
Sarr’s development has been fundamental to Palace’s success. He came to the fore in the absence of Eze, and without his consistency in the Conference League, they would not have enjoyed those jubilant scenes in Leipzig.