Sage reveals focus of training ahead of Hoffenheim
Crystal Palace must rediscover the balance between offensive and defensive proficiency when they take on TSG Hoffenheim on Thursday evening (17:45 GMT).
That is the view of Manager Pierre Sage who – speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League match at Selhurst Park, for which tickets are still on sale – is hoping his side can return to winning ways in continental competition.
Palace began their maiden Europa League voyage with three points and a 4-0 win against Lech Poznań at Selhurst Park last time out, but have found clean sheets more difficult to come by since, despite some strong defending against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur last week.
Finding the balance between their early-season attacking form, and recent defensive improvement, has been the focus of Palace’s increased number of training sessions this week, according to the Manager.
“The responsibility is on me and I have to deal with this kind of thing,” Sage said. “And from Monday to today, the work was really at a good level.
“We worked a lot on things which we could not work on for a long time, because of the games after games, and that was a good sign because the players played the way we decided and with a lot of efficiency.
“[We trained] especially offensively, the way to build up in our play, in the way to play in the back of the last line of the opponent.
“I think in our two last games we defended a lot, more or less well, but we didn't attack in the way that we decided before the game. And that's why we have to come back to this, by finding the balance between the two.
“I only know that we need to win games. In my last experience in the Europa League [with Lyon], I lost only one. For the moment, we lost one and we made the draw. If we win two or three games again, we can qualify. That's the most important objective for the moment.
“We have to be focused on that. We know that we will play a different football [style], a different kind of team, and maybe with the games and the situation of every opponent, it could be different because some of them could maybe be qualified quickly and some could be eliminated quickly.
“That's why we have to capitalise and to take the points that we need.”
We enjoy playing and I think it's one of the best things to do in life, play a match of football
—Pierre Sage
Palace have won just two of their last seven matches in all competitions – a busy run of fixtures since 11th October – but Sage noted: “When we play, it's always a good thing.
“We enjoy playing and I think it's one of the best things to do in life, play a match of football. We have big chances this year, we play every three days and for the moment the results are not at the level of our entertainment to play, but we have to consider that the performances will come if we work, if we continue in our process.
“With time, as I told you, I think the play and the results will be better and we will enjoy playing every three days more.
“If we, as a staff and players, didn't give our lives every day, I would not be optimistic. But I am optimistic because I see, every day, every player on the pitch really involved in the work.
“If you do that day after day, I'm sure good things will happen. That's why I'm always optimistic when I see this kind of thing.”
Match Details
Crystal Palace v TSG Hoffenheim
- Thursday, 5th November
- 17:45 GMT
- UEFA Europa League
- Selhurst Park
- Tickets available here.
- Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.