Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sagh has spoken out following the team's disappointing 4-1 defeat to Manchester City. He believes the final score was too severe and highlighted that his squad is still struggling to maintain high performance levels throughout the match.
Sagh told BBC Sport:
I’m disappointed with the scoreline. It’s too large. We performed well for about 60 to 65 minutes. This has been our story so far. We know we’re lagging behind in terms of pre-season preparation. In our last match, we managed 45 minutes, and today it was 65.
The pivotal moment of the match, according to Sagh, was Manchester City’s third goal.
He explained:
The worst moment was the score at 1-3. We had fought our way back into the game, but after that goal, we lost hope. We had several chances before that which we failed to capitalise on. Against a team like this, you need to be at your very best.
Sagh also commented on Erling Haaland's goal:
We allowed them to deliver the ball into the box. We know how well Haaland can play with his head.
We had many opportunities, but we didn’t make the most of them. Football is not just about style; effectiveness is key. Sometimes you need points to regain your confidence.
The manager also addressed the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta from the matchday squad.
Sagh revealed:
Mateta picked up an injury two days before the game. It happened at the end of training during individual work. It’s just madness. We might be without him for at least four weeks.
