Hamilton defender Lucas Tagliapietra has hailed Accies’ midfield maestro Ali Crawford, and says he’s one of the best players in Scotland.
Crawford’s stunning strike against Hearts last time out underlined the talent that the diminutive playmaker possesses.
Despite consistently providing goals and assists for Accies though, there were no bids for Crawford during the transfer window, much to the relief of all at New Douglas Park.
“I can describe Ali in one word – magic,” said the Brazilian stopper.
“He is a great player. We have a lot of great players and we play as a team but Ali is a special talent.
“He has great ability, you can see it on the pitch and in training. He’s a great teammate.
“I have played with some good players but Ali is up there as one of the best.
“There’s no doubt he is one of the best players in the league in his position.
“I am obviously happy no one came in for him during the transfer window. I hope he gets what he deserves from football but I hope he can stay with us for a while longer.”
Hamilton’s win over high-flying Hearts had many a pre-season doomsayer reaching for a large serving of humble pie after tipping Martin Canning’s men for relegation.
Lucas says that the win was his best moment since arriving on these shores, and insists that the Hamilton squad have never let what others say affect them.
“It was good to have a break after such a great result,” he said.
“It was a nice rest because we have got a tough week ahead with three games.
“It was a great win for us against Hearts - the best game I have been involved in since I came to Scotland.
“The atmosphere was amazing and we got the result we deserved.
“There was a lot of talk about is in pre-season but I never listened. I always knew we have got quality here and I believe in the players.
“I think we have proved people wrong so far but I hope there is more improvement to come from us.
“We didn’t speak about it. When you see you have a great group you don’t care what people say. It’s just about having belief.
“A lot of things can happen over a season but hopefully we can keep playing well.
“We will keep humility and focus in every game.”
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