Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage has urged his players to learn from their 3-2 Europa League defeat at Lyon, with the Eagles now preparing for Sunday’s meeting with Brighton.
Palace’s first European away tie ended in disappointment as Lyon established a two-goal advantage before half-time. Yéremy Pino gave the visitors hope after the interval, while Daichi Kamada equalised in the closing stages, but Pavel Sulc’s clever backheel ultimately proved decisive for the French side.
The result brought Palace’s three-match unbeaten run to an end. Sage felt the damage had been done during a first half in which his team failed to match the standards required, leaving them with too much ground to recover.
Reflecting on the match, Sage said the second-half display was much closer to the level Palace expect from themselves. However, he was critical of the team’s lack of intensity, their handling of Lyon’s tactical problems and their work with the ball. He believes improvements in those areas will be essential if Palace are to remain competitive.
The manager is keen for Palace to respond quickly, identifying Sunday’s rivalry clash with Brighton as the immediate priority. He wants his side to reproduce the character shown after the break in Lyon rather than the performance they delivered before half-time. Palace’s next Europa League fixture will then take them to Beşiktaş next Thursday.
Sage also provided an update on Jean-Philippe Mateta, who missed the trip to Lyon. The striker could have a chance of returning this weekend, although he remains in rehabilitation and is still working his way back to fitness.
