Sage on Selhurst debut, lessons at Everton & facing Man City

First-team

7 hours ago

Pierre Sage expects it to be a “wonderful moment” when he steps out as Crystal Palace Manager for the first time on Friday evening – but is more focused on what will happen immediately afterwards against Manchester City.

Click here for the Manager's pre-match Team News update.
All the latest news ahead of Friday night's match.

The Eagles’ boss will make his first appearance in SE25 under the lights on Friday (28th, 20:00 BST kick-off), facing City, who themselves have a new face in the dugout in Enzo Maresca.

And Sage told his pre-match press conference: “I think it will be a wonderful moment, but I prefer to have a wonderful moment with good news at the end of the game.

“That's why I don't think about me in this situation. The most important thing is the team and the result for sure, because we prepare all the week for that, to make them [the fans] happy.

“Okay, they will be happy to see us – but I think they would prefer to see us win.

“I will give my life to make them happy. I cannot do more.”

On Selhurst itself, the Manager added: “When you're in this stadium, you feel the history. You feel that there's something heavy weighing on you. It's a great responsibility that I've been entrusted with.

“We can't wait to see this stadium in action. Everton has a modern stadium with a great atmosphere, but I've always been told about the atmosphere here at home. I can't wait to see it.

“As I said, the most important thing is to contest the match. If we manage to dispute it in a context of joy at the end, it will be extraordinary.”

Sage’s competitive reign as Manager began with a defeat at Everton on the opening day in a game which – had Palace taken their presentable first-half opportunities in front of goal – well could have gone another way.

“The players were really frustrated, and I understood by this way that they are aware of what happened on the pitch, what happened in this game, especially because everybody is agreed with the idea that we have to score in the first-half and maybe the scenario could be different,” Sage explained.

“But football is not only about how you deserve to win, how you deserve to score – you have to. It's only about efficiency, and we weren't efficient – that's why the game is like this. We have to improve how we create the chances, how we can finish them, to have a better life.

“When I watched the game a second time, being quiet in my office, I had the same feeling. And I think maybe the second [Everton] goal put us in this situation [where we were too passive in the second-half].

“But when I saw the first-half, what we did during this half, we must have more confidence to play, because we are able to do things that maybe we could not imagine at the beginning of this game. And when you are able to do this kind of thing, you are able to do it for a longer time – that's what we need to improve.”

Finally, Sage looked ahead to taking on Maresca – and his former player Rayan Cherki, whom he coached at Olympique Lyonnais – on Friday night.

The Manager said: “They [Pep Guardiola and Maresca] are really different, but they are similar if you want. The way of playing is a little bit different because I think with Enzo Maresca, the team will be more turned to transitions if you want.

“I know that Pep likes to control the play, likes to enjoy with the ball and he gives this kind of message to his players. But they worked together. I know Enzo was with Man City U21s when Pep was the head coach there, so if they were very different, I think they cannot work together.

“Beyond being a young coach, he [Maresca] was a player who's played more than 400 high-level matches. He knows the environment very well and he's proven it in the past with his experiences, notably winning the Club World Cup with Chelsea. He's a different coach.

“I think if Manchester City chose him after Pep Guardiola, it's for reasons which are related to his profile and his skills.

“I wish the best for both of us, but I wish it for him a little later than me, because we're playing against him on Friday – so if it could start on Saturday, that would be great.”

Quote Icons

We have to be ambitious in the play
—Pierre Sage

On taking the game to City, Sage added: “There's two options: the first option is by not letting them have too much space. The second option is by cutting the passing lines as high as we can.

“We will be between these two options and deal with that. It depends on the moment of the game. But the most important thing, I think, with this kind of team is to optimise the time we have the ball and when we attack.

“If you are able to attack against this kind of team and if you are able to make some problems for them, I think the psychology of the game could change, because they have the ability to have the ball, they have the ability to control the play.

“That's why we have to be ambitious in the play and to try to do our best with the ball.

“We are not victims. We want to be in the heads of our opponent.”

Crystal Palace v Manchester City

Friday, 28th August
20:00 BST
Premier League
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.

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