Crystal Palace manager Sage reports on key player injuries and explains team rotation strategy.

On the eve of their fourth-round League Cup away match against Fulham, Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sager gave a pre-match interview, reporting on the team's injury situation and providing detailed explanations on squad rotation and tactical stability during the congested schedule.

Regarding the injuries of key players, Saje first brought positive news about the goalkeeper, and then mentioned the other players: "I think captain Dean Henderson will play on Wednesday. As for Larsen, we'll have to wait until Wednesday to see; he twisted his ankle in a challenge against Besiktas."

“Sarrell’s situation is quite difficult; his groin injury is putting him under a lot of strain. We tried playing him for 60 minutes against Lyon, but his running and sprinting decreased significantly. After discussions, we decided to let him rest and receive treatment; the team needs him to recover to 100%.”

Speaking about the high-intensity schedule of three matches a week, Sager emphasized that rotation must take into account both physical fitness and competitive form: "Many players have played for too long in a row and do need to rest and recover. But based on my previous experience coaching Lyon in the Europa League, if too many players are given a complete rest in the middle of the week, they will lose their rhythm in the game."

"Therefore, some players need to rest, while others need to play matches to maintain their rhythm for the away game against Tottenham this weekend, depending on the specific physical characteristics of the players."

Looking back at the previous defeat to Newcastle United, Sager made demands on the team's fluctuating performance: "Compared to the previous game against Brighton where we were unsatisfactory for a full 90 minutes, we only deviated from our expectations for about 15 minutes in this game against Newcastle United."

"But the biggest problem for the team right now is the lack of consistency for 90 minutes. The performance can be completely opposite in the same half. We need to build good teamwork, a winning mentality, and high concentration throughout the game. I am the person in charge of the team, and I must create these conditions. I will also select players based on these criteria."

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