Sage highlights half-time switch & ‘beautiful’ part of win
Pierre Sage says Crystal Palace’s improved second-half display merited their Carabao Cup fourth-round win over Fulham.
The Eagles edged a tight Cup tie 1-0 in West London to make it five wins on the bounce away at Craven Cottage, and secure passage to the quarter-finals for a club-record third season in a row.
The win was Palace’s first in five matches, and Manager Pierre Sage smiled afterwards: “It was important because to win games, to succeed – a small success, but to succeed – it's always important for the team, for the guys who work a lot, to have sometimes the income of what they do.
“This evening, they gave a lot, and I think they have the little ‘trophy’ they deserved. But we played against a good team too. It was really difficult, especially in the first-half. We struggled on our left side because they combined it really well, and we changed some things, tactical things, during half-time.
“I think we used the ball better in the second-half, and we played better in the second half, but today, first of all, we defended well.”
It's the most beautiful thing of the day
—Pierre Sage
After making 10 changes to his starting XI – including welcoming back Doucouré from long-term injury, as well as captain Dean Henderson – Sage noted: “It's really important to underline that a lot of players didn't play too much since the beginning of the season.
“It's always difficult to play a game like this, especially against this kind of pressure, and they did the job – and that's really important.
“It's really important for me too because I have more chances now and more problems, but good problems to build the team and to choose the players. I await the effects in [the training] session because when everybody is ready to play, it's always better.”
As for Doucouré, who played an hour on his first competitive start since 4th January 2025 – some 662 days ago – Sage added: “For me, it's the most beautiful thing of the day.
“He’s really, really a kind guy, has suffered a lot, waited a lot, fought a lot to come back… and he had the pleasure to be on the pitch and to play football.
“You understand the really important thing and I see it for him. And for his teammates, the most important thing for him is to see him happy.”
As for Henderson’s return, Sage noted: “Especially at the end of the game, he made an important save [from Gonzalo Garcia].
“And you know, he's a wonderful ‘keeper. He showed it again today. He's an important captain and an important person in our dressing room, and we are really happy to see him come back, because he's important for the performance of the team too.
“But we have to think that Walter Benitez did the job too, and that's important because a lot of things can happen – everybody has to be ready – and all the players showed up this evening too.”
All the fans are really behind us, and they are happy when the team is like this
—Pierre Sage
Towards the end, Sage was seen blowing kisses towards the stand which Palace fans were sat in – but clarified to reporters: “To my wife – I like the fans, but I love my wife, and I have to be honest with that!
“But all the fans are really behind us, and they are happy when the team is like this. And I think the connection between them and us is better when we play like this, when we fight on the pitch.
“It's not only about the result. It's about what kind of team we are and what kind of play we are able to do. And I think this evening we struggled a lot in the play, because they had the initiative, but we defended the small things.
“That was the way to win today. It's not the ideal way. But sometimes it's good to win – and I'm happy for them too.”