Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has urged his players to keep believing in their work as they look to respond to their opening-day defeat against Everton.
The Eagles have little time to dwell on that result, with Manchester City now arriving at Selhurst Park. Sage insists Palace’s approach hasn’t changed, despite the disappointing start.
“Our process is always the same. We start from our previous game, and we go to our next game, every day, with a subject. Today it was how to play in the back of the opponent, for example.”
“And we evaluate what we did well and badly during our last game, and what we can do against Manchester City. It’s always the same process.
“That’s why, at the end, we prepare ourselves in the way we decide, and we adapt to the context of each opponent,” Pierre Sage said ahead of the Manchester City game.
Pierre Sage explains Crystal Palace attacking options
The Palace boss explained his decision to use Eddie Nketiah behind Jean-Philippe Mateta against Everton.
Nketiah struck the post and also created two chances for Mateta, who himself hit the woodwork.
“He’s able to play in both positions, but I like him as a 10 because he’s smart and he creates good chances – the one where he shot and the keeper made an incredible save, and the one he gave to Mateta in the first minutes…
“He’s able to play in both positions – and it depends who are the two other guys [in attack].”
Crystal Palace host Manchester City at Selhurst Park on Friday, August 28, with kick-off at 8pm BST.
