Sage on Palace’s ‘corrections’ at half-time
Pierre Sage says Crystal Palace’s performance improved in numerous ways after half-time, after seeing off the challenge of Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup.
Palace and their Championship visitors traded chances in an end-to-end first-half, but it was the Eagles who took the lead into the interval thanks to Jørgen Strand Larsen’s glancing header from Óscar Mingueza’s in-swinging cross.
Sage’s side’s second-half display was more assured and controlling of the contest, with Strand Larsen adding another header and Daichi Kamada completing the scoring with a wonderful late chip.
The Manager told his post-match press conference: “I think we didn't play well at the beginning of the game.
“We started to play when we scored the first goal. It was a good collective action. We controlled the ball at this moment. At the end we scored. That's a good sign.
“During the first-half, I was not very happy with our way of defending. We struggled when they played between our lines. But we corrected this kind of thing during the half-time. It was better in the second-half.
“At the end, today, we had the score. We didn't have possession. But they [Middlesbrough] are a good team. It's really a good team. I want to congratulate them. The score is for us, but they played well. It's like this.
“It's always special to analyse the game in the Cup, because [both teams] made eight rotations in the starting eleven. At the end, they played well – better than us during the first-half.
“It's unconscious, but I think the players are more relaxed in this kind of game. During the game, they understood they need to do more. It's a good thing they are aware of that.
“I think during half-time, they understood that we are able to play. We don't have to be afraid to play, because it's only football and we have the quality to do it.”
This kind of situation has a good effect on every player
—Pierre Sage
Sage was pleased to see Strand Larsen stake a claim for a place in his starting XI, having made an impact off the bench in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Fulham – and now opened his account in style for 2026/27.
The Manager added: “It's always a good problem when a player performs and the others have to move them – because a coach always like this. He always wants to have the better of the moment.
“It's a good thing for the others, because they don't have to give up. They have to give their best too. Sometimes, this kind of situation has a good effect on every player.
“I think it's the same for every position. You spoke about the striker, but I think it's the same for every position.
“Now, I just have to manage the freshness [of Jørgen], because he played 45 on Fulham, 60, 65 today, and we play on Saturday.
“I think he will be able to start [against Ipswich Town], but we will see what happens, because Eddie Nketiah will be able to train maybe tomorrow or after tomorrow.”