Sage on valuable Germany trip and work to come
Crystal Palace Manager Pierre Sage reflected on a valuable week in Germany and the work still to come after his side’s final pre-season test against SC Freiburg.
Sage’s side concluded their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Freiburg in South-West Germany, with an additional 30-minute training game following the 90 minutes.
With players returning at different stages following the World Cup, alongside a number of injuries, Sage highlighted the importance of having more time together as the squad continues to settle.
“For the moment, I think we are not ready to play because we need more sessions,” he said. “With the starting XI, we have only two or three players who have been here with us from the beginning without injury.
“That’s why it’s difficult. We played maybe 30 minutes good in the first half, but it’s not sufficient because a game like this is 120 minutes. Only a quarter is not sufficient to work something else.”
Palace have spent the past week in South-West Germany, with Sage pleased with the opportunity to work closely with his squad and begin implementing his ideas.
“It was a moment to work together with all the players,” he explained. “As I said before, we need more time because it’s a new staff with new ideas. To implement this kind of thing, it takes time.
“I think the players who were with us from the beginning understand better than the new ones. That’s why we adapt and we will do a lot of things that the team did last year.
“Because we have less time to work, we will continue our work during the season.”
With the Premier League opener against Everton now just one week away, Sage knows the focus must quickly turn towards being ready for competitive action.
“The Premier League is different than pre-season because the atmosphere is different. The way we treat the game is different. Maybe the mindset of the players too.
“The only thing that is important during this time is the result and how we build it. That’s why this week we have to work.
“Like I told the players, the only shelter we have is the job and the work.
“We need to improve. We know we are late, but we have to reduce this gap with the other teams. We have to be competitive during the first game.”
Sage also welcomed the arrival of Anan Khalaili, who completed his move from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday, joining fellow new arrivals Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand.
Khalaili did not travel to Freiburg having only completed his move on the day of the game, but Sage is excited to begin working with his latest addition.
“Anan didn’t come with us because he signed only today,” said Sage. “He could play today, but it’s difficult, like I told you before, to play with new teammates when you don’t know them.
“And for the others, they win time, they win learning things. And now they are teammates like the others.
“It’s a special week for them, a special week for us too. But in the end, they are the Palace players.”