Sage’s verdict on defeat at Tottenham
Pierre Sage has given his verdict on Crystal Palace’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, after his team suffered an early red card before going down to goals from Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke.
"It was a difficult game 11 vs 11 and when we took the red card, it was a more difficult game, because we gave the ball too much to our opponent and they played really well with the ball," Sage admitted.
"We defended well during the first-half but then after they scored from a set-piece, the step was really high.
"During half-time, we decided to try to keep this result until minute 75 and to make some substitutions to push at the end of the game to come back, but we conceded a second goal at minute 74, just before the substitutions, and in the end our big plan was countered by this.
"I think he [Mateta] didn't see the player when he tackled, and it's a normal red card – I have nothing to say about that.
"That put the team in a bad situation. We had to defend, we had to stay compact, all together, but it was difficult because each time we recovered the ball, we gave it back to our opponent.
"In this way, it was impossible to exist in this kind of game, especially against a team with this quality with the ball.
"If we wanted only to defend, it could be a satisfaction, but I'm not satisfied by that. I think we can defend like this by attacking too.
"But today, the times between when we defended and when we attacked, the transition, was really not at the level expected because we got back the ball and we have to master the ball more in this situation.
"I have to find the solution because the solutions are really collective, because we were able to play better, we were able to defend higher and on Wednesday [a 1-0 win at Fulham] and today, we chose to defend lower.
"But we struggled when we recovered the ball and we have to improve this moment of the play because if not, it would be too difficult to defend like this."
They gave a lot, they fought a lot today, without the result
—Pierre Sage
On his team's reaction to the result, the Manager added: "After the game the players were really frustrated because they gave a lot, they fought a lot today, without the result expected. I think they are aware of the context but it's not an excuse.
"We had the opportunity, a small opportunity, to come back to 1-1 just before the plan we built in the dressing room during half-time, but we missed it. At the end, when we took this second goal, it was really difficult for us and Dean Henderson made some incredible saves.
"I'm not comfortable with the situation in the table, but my only way to change things is on the pitch. That's why i told the players I want to be the first on the [training pitch] on Monday.
"The game I saw this evening is not in line with my conviction and I don't like when we give the initiative too much to the opponent. I was really impressed by what I saw with the other team, and I like this kind of play. I know we are not the same team, but we are able to do things with the ball and we have to improve that."