Emanuel Emegha could do "great things" at Chelsea, says Thomas Hitzlsperger after Strasbourg captain sparks comeback win over Crystal Palace

Emanuel Emegha offered Chelsea fans a glimpse of what is to come, inspiring Strasbourg to a 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League. Chelsea-bound striker Emegha restored parity for Strasbourg before teenager Samir El Mourabet clinched the victory with his first senior goal. TNT Sports pundit Thomas Hitzlsperger believes he is capable of making the step up in class.

Highlights: Rising stars of Strasbourg shine to topple Palace

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Emanuel Emegha gave Chelsea fans a preview of the future, as the young Strasbourg striker inspired a 2-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League.

Tyrick Mitchell’s first-half goal had put The Eagles on track for a third win from four European matches, but Emegha - who will join Chelsea in July 2026 after signing a pre-agreement with the Premier League club - brought Strasbourg level, before teenager Samir El Mourabet sealed the win with his first senior goal.

Reflecting on the deal in place for Emegha to join Enzo Maresca's side next summer, former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger told TNT Sports: "It's a system that works with Chelsea. BlueCo being also the owners of Strasbourg, that works.

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"So you have young talents, if they're not ready for the Premier League yet, you send them to Strasbourg as they're doing. They see these top players in the French Ligue 1, and then they get early access to them. Emegha is just the next one they bring in.

"He's got enough experience in Ligue 1, a very good level. We've seen he's part of a very good team, and he's going to move on. Hopefully for him, he's doing great things for Chelsea next season onwards."

With Palace fifth in the Premier League and Strasbourg - managed by former Fulham and Hull fullback Liam Rosenior - fifth in Ligue 1, this was a tussle between two of the favourites to go all the way to the final in Leipzig next May.

A lot of eyes on Rosenior after putting identity on Strasbourg - Ward

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Palace were given an early warning of Strasbourg’s attacking threat when Diego Moreira set up El Mourabet, who forced a smart save from Dean Henderson at his near post.

Before half-time, a familiar face appeared for the visitors; former Palace loanee Ben Chilwell, now at Strasbourg on loan from Chelsea, another example of Todd Boehly’s dual-club ownership strategy.

Emegha, who is set to join Chelsea next season, came close to scoring with a header that went narrowly wide.

But just seven minutes after the restart, Moreira delivered an inviting cross that Emegha dispatched from close range to level the score.

Incoming Chelsea signing and ‘star man’ Emegha levels for Strasbourg

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Before El Mourabet’s winner, Emegha nearly produced a carbon copy of his equaliser from a Sebastian Nanasi cross, only for Chris Richards to intervene with a superb last-ditch tackle.

Henderson then kept Palace alive with a stunning save to deny another Chelsea loanee, Kendry Paez, but the visitors could not find an equaliser, and remain on six points from their four matches so far.

Speaking to TNT Sports afterwards, expert Joel Ward was impressed by the overall performance of Emegha.

"He was a handful; he was strong, willing to run in behind," Ward said. You can see him here pulling off the shoulders [for his goal]. That's a striker's finish, pulling off the back of Maxence [Lacroix] in between Chris [Richards] as well.

"You don't see many people run off the back of Danny [Munoz], and I was really impressed with those around him as well, especially down that left-hand side, where a lot of their chances came from."

'We need more players who show up in scoring goals' - Glasner rues Palace missed chances

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Chilwell still dreaming of England recall

While Emegha's future in the game looks very bright, Thursday's encounter also threw up an intriguing subplot between two players vying for a late charge at making Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup.

Mitchell took his first-half goal very well, but it was Chilwell who would have the last laugh. The pair were seen in conversation in the tunnel as the two sides emerged for the second half, with Strasbourg going on to stage an impressive turnaround.

'All I can do is keep working hard' - Chilwell eyes World Cup with England

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At 28, Chilwell is one of the more senior figures in Rosenior's squad, and the player who won an FA Cup winners' medal with Palace last season has not given up hope of being selected for his country next summer.

"All I can do is come in here every day and work hard, train well and try to help the team when I do play," he said. "I just want to try and play as much football as I can this season and give myself the best chance; that is all I can do.

"Whatever happens in the summer is up to the manager at England, and all I can do is keep working hard here, and we'll see where it ends up."

"Liam [Rosenior] pushes us every day. He's a very ambitious manager. He's made it clear since the day that I got here, in numerous meetings, what he thinks this group can achieve. Trophies are what he wants, and it's a very ambitious group.

Adding goals has been something I've been working on - Mitchell

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"I've got a responsibility to push the group, and I'm doing that. With such a young but energetic group that wants to do well, you can see today on the pitch how everyone wants to run for each other.

"We play for each other, and we play for the manager. Tonight showed that."

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