Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage says his squad have been working to restore the balance between attack and defence ahead of Thursday evening’s Europa League meeting with TSG Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park, which kicks off at 17:45 GMT.
Palace opened their first European campaign with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Lech Poznań, but clean sheets have proved harder to secure since then. Sage felt his team defended with encouraging discipline against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur last week, although he also acknowledged that their attacking execution did not match the plans prepared before those fixtures.
With a busier training schedule this week, the focus has turned towards building play more effectively and finding opportunities behind the opposition’s defensive line. Sage said the players had responded well during the sessions, allowing the coaching staff to work on areas that had been difficult to address during a demanding sequence of matches.
Palace have won only two of their last seven games in all competitions, a run that has taken place during a particularly crowded period since 11th October. However, Sage remains positive about the team’s progress and believes continued commitment on the training pitch will eventually be reflected in both performances and results.
The manager also stressed the importance of collecting points in the league phase. Drawing on his previous Europa League experience with Lyon, he said Palace could put themselves in a strong position by winning two or three more matches, while recognising that each opponent may present a different challenge as the competition develops. Tickets for Thursday’s Selhurst Park fixture remain available.
