- 26 minutes ago
Palace Boss and Captain Sage and Wharton ahead of their Clash v Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday
Crystal Palace Training Ground
16/09/2026
Crystal Palace Training Ground
16/09/2026
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SportsTranscript
00:09Hello, everyone. Thanks for joining us. I have Piersaj and Adam Wharton. We'll take questions from Sky Sports News. And
00:18if any of our friends from Poland have any questions, we have a translator here to help as well.
00:23OK, Chris. Good afternoon. Could you start with some team news? You had a few players injured or with kind
00:31of ongoing issues. Could we start with Ismail Asar?
00:35He could be in the team tomorrow as Andy and Ketia because they started to train with us this week
00:44and they are in shape.
00:48Slightly longer-term injuries with Mateta and Henderson, but do you have any kind of updates on those two?
00:55I hope it will be after the international break, but like it's long injuries, there's more or less days. That's
01:06why we hope and we will see.
01:08With Dean Henderson, we've just seen the good news that he signed a new contract at the club. Just how
01:14important was that for this club to get that deal done with Dean?
01:17The news fall just before the press conference. It's a good thing. We are really happy for us. We are
01:24really happy for him. It's a long-term contract for our captain.
01:29For the moment, he is injured, but he showed us during his first game that he is really important in
01:37the team.
01:38And we hope he came back quickly because he is really important in the dressing room too. That's why he
01:47is kind of new. He is a good new for us.
01:50How much of an impact does he have behind the scenes with the squad? How important of a character is
01:56Dean here?
01:59As a player, first of all, because he is a really good goalkeeper. And as a man, because he has
02:06a good leadership.
02:06He is positive, he is always with his teammates. That's why it's really important to have him. But we have
02:15to consider him with the other goalkeepers too,
02:21because they make a good job altogether. And if the level of Dean is high, it's because he is a
02:29teammate too.
02:30Adam, could I also ask you about Dean and his importance and just how good news that is for Crystal
02:35Palace to tie him down?
02:37Yeah, it's great news for the club. Obviously, he has been here quite a few years now.
02:43Especially since I joined, he just seems to have got better and better.
02:49Especially the last couple of seasons, playing at a high level, helping us out when we needed it in games,
02:55tough moments.
02:56So, yeah, obviously, long-term contract is good for him and good for the club and good for us as
03:02teammates.
03:04And, you know, as a guy in the dressing room, he's lively, good with all the lads.
03:11Always speaking to everyone, keeping everyone, sort of making sure everyone's feeling good within themselves.
03:17And then obviously that gets the best out of us.
03:19Come back to you, Pierre. How is Ismail Assar? Because I think last week you mentioned he's getting happier.
03:27He's feeling a bit better kind of day by day. But mentally now, if he's close to being in the
03:32squad, are you happy that he's OK?
03:34I think the situation is behind him now. He turned normally, he looks normally, and we will see on the
03:46pitch during the competition games.
03:48But I think he is now in the idea to make a big season with us.
03:55Have you got the reaction you wanted from JD Kambo? Because he was left out of the squad last time.
04:01You were very clear about why it was a sporting decision.
04:05Have you seen what you wanted from him to come back into the squad? And what's his reaction been like?
04:10Yes. During this week, it was really clear. The message is clear, and I take the message.
04:20There's been a story in the press, in the UK press, that some people in the Crystal Palace board weren't
04:26very happy with the situation and how it was handled by you.
04:30I wonder if you've seen this story and what you made of it.
04:32Do you know, as you said, it's a story. It's not official. If you want to have the right word
04:41about that, ask to Steve Parish.
04:45I spoke with him a few days ago about that, but there's no problem.
04:49So you did speak to him about the JD Kambo situation?
04:52About all subjects. And I have always a position to explain my decisions, positive and negative.
05:01And sometimes they react, but they are in line with this decision.
05:09How is the relationship with you and Steve? And when you talk about these things, are you comfortable that you
05:13have the authority to kind of make these decisions without being, I guess, having a negative effect on you or
05:20the team or anything like that?
05:21The reaction is the reaction of somebody who was a part of the information at the beginning, sorry, of the
05:33conversation. And when I gave my arguments, he understood why I take this decision.
05:40How are you feeling, I guess, coming into such a big game for Crystal Palace, the first game in the
05:45Europa League, obviously with the history last season in the Conference League as well?
05:51Yes, it's historical because it's the first game of the first game in this competition. That's why we are really
05:58happy to play this game. But it could be historical if we win it.
06:06And just with the game being so historical, it is another game where, you know, the Crystal Palace Ultras, the
06:12Holmesdale fanatics, they won't be a part of this part of history.
06:15Have you had a chance yet to kind of think about the situation yourself, to speak to the club and
06:20how kind of disappointing is it that they're going to be keeping on missing these kind of historical moments for
06:26the team?
06:26Especially, I know how much it meant to you to join the team because of this ultra culture.
06:32During the game against Ipswich, the moment we need them, I think we understood that the situation is not clear.
06:43But when we scored the 2-2, I understood they are here and they love the club and they are
06:50able to be with us and we need them.
06:53That's why I think if we play well, if we are in line with the values of the club, with
07:00what they are looking for, I think they will be with us every game.
07:05And this problem will be behind too.
07:10Adam, can I just ask how kind of excited you are to attack this competition in particular given what happened
07:17here last year with the Conference League?
07:19Yeah, obviously exciting for us and the club. Obviously going off of last year, first time in Europe, sort of
07:30a new step for the club and we sort of embraced it and took it on us and it was
07:35obviously very successful.
07:37And I think it's the same with this year. Obviously not been in the Europa League before, so everyone just
07:43wants to embrace it and take it in the stride.
07:46And I think obviously last year there wasn't really any sort of aims within it. Obviously we wanted to win,
07:54but we'd never been in it before, so we didn't really know what to expect.
07:57And I think it's the same here. I don't see why we can't go very far and try and win
08:01it. And that's the aim.
08:03We asked Pierre over the summer quite specifically about yourself and your future and the answer he gave was that
08:11the club himself and you kind of saw the next year at Crystal Palace being an important one for you
08:17and something good for you, I guess, in your development to kind of stay at the club this year and
08:21then perhaps kind of review it next season.
08:24Is that how you see it in your eyes? And just what was this summer like for you in terms
08:27of the kind of the speculation around your future at the club?
08:33I mean, to be honest, I've never really thought about a transfer this summer. I stay very far away from
08:42it. My agent doesn't really tell me anything. I don't want to know anything.
08:49If I'm not going to move, then there's no need for me to have any information. It's only just going
08:55to sort of be in your mind and you overthink it.
08:59So I never even thought about a different club. I was always here training, looking forward to the season with
09:07the gaffer, the new staff, obviously new players coming in.
09:11And it's the same this season. I've still got three years left at Crystal Palace. So for all I know,
09:18I'm here for another three years unless a club comes in or there's a new contract.
09:22I don't know. I don't really look too far ahead, just sort of take it week by week, game by
09:28game.
09:30And that sort of helps me get the best out of myself and I can just sort of concentrate on
09:36what's next.
09:38There's never really anything to it. And yeah, I'm happy to be playing games and obviously trying to improve.
09:47There's an international break coming up. Obviously, you weren't part of the last England squad for the World Cup, despite
09:52you kind of being in the Euro squad.
09:54I just wondered what the conversations are like with Thomas Tuchel over the summer and if he spoke to you
09:59kind of since then.
10:00And what your I guess what your hopes are kind of in the future now for England?
10:07Yeah, I mean, he just spoke to me before the squad was announced in the summer, said I was close,
10:16but he took the decision to not take me.
10:20And obviously that's football. It happens. That's his decision. They obviously got really close.
10:27There's a lot of top players to choose from. And it's the same again. He's got to make a decision
10:34between however many players there are in the midfield.
10:39So there's a lot of top players to choose from. And like I said, I just sort of focus on
10:45myself. If I get picked, great. I'm doing well.
10:49I'm happy. I get to play football for my country. Who doesn't want to do that? If not, I can
10:55stay.
10:56I'm still at Crystal Palace working, trying to improve just a different environment. So, yeah, I don't really look into
11:05them too much.
11:08I don't know. The squad comes out Friday, I'm guessing. So, yeah, we'll see.
11:14How do you think the season started for you personally, kind of on an individual level? And I guess my
11:18next question would be, how has it been adapting to a new manager in Pierre?
11:24Yeah, I think obviously it's been a bit of a slow start for us as a team. Personally, I'm not
11:31sort of delighted with how I've started.
11:35A few good bits, but also a lot of stuff to work on. And that's what I'm trying to do
11:41in training.
11:43And I just want to get better and better. And then obviously with the new gaffer staff coming in, new
11:48way of playing, a lot of new signings.
11:52It's just about working every day, trying to sort of implement his way of playing.
11:58How it wants to be in possession, out of possession, sort of trying to gel with the new teammates, what
12:04their strengths are, how we can get the best out of them with obviously the players that were already here.
12:09So, yeah, obviously, it's not always smooth sailing when there's new tactics, a lot of new faces.
12:18It's not just going to click like that. But yeah, there's lots of positives to take from certain parts of
12:26the games, but also a lot to work on.
12:30And that's what we'll continue to do in the coming weeks and, you know, hopefully start to be more consistent
12:37throughout the full period of the game.
12:39I guess from the outside, the system looks the same and some of the personnel is the same.
12:46But from a player's perspective, what would be the biggest kind of difference, would you say, from Pierre, I guess,
12:51to Oliver of last season?
12:55Yeah, obviously, similar formation, but in possession, out of possession, different.
13:01I want to be aggressive out of possession, pressing from goal kicks, trying to win the ball back high and
13:09obviously creating a lot of chances.
13:11We scored quite a lot of goals in the first few games, which is positive, which means we're creating chances
13:16and taking them.
13:18But also we've conceded a few, which is obviously not ideal, but again, different way of defending.
13:25So I guess when you're trying to be aggressive to win the ball back, sometimes you might have them countering
13:32you and leave space.
13:33But again, we're working on it. There's lots of positives and stuff to work on. And yeah, I'm sure it'll
13:41come good.
13:46Hello, we have two questions to the manager, so to you. Adam, let's start from the coach.
13:54So how many games of Lech Poznan did you watch to prepare this game and what did you notice maybe?
13:59And how do you approach that game from the tactical perspective, from tactical point of view?
14:04We looked at the seven games of this year because they started their season really early with the Champions League
14:14qualifies.
14:18And that's always difficult because there's a lot of things that happen when you miss the qualification in the Champions
14:27League.
14:27After that, you have to qualify in the Europa League and you have the league too.
14:32And we see a team who improve, who will play with intentions really clear.
14:44But you know, one of the most important things for us is to do our best in the way we
14:54want to play.
14:55And as said Adam, we have things to improve. We have good things to improve anymore to be the best
15:05version of ourselves.
15:07That's why it will be our context against Lech Poznan. But we have to be really focused on what we
15:16have to do first, I think.
15:18And is there any player in the Lech line-up that you are paying particular attention? What makes you biggest
15:26threat?
15:26He was a little bit injured, but Ishak is someone who everybody knows. He scored a lot of goals. Last
15:35year, he competed with Ismail Assar in the Conference League.
15:39And now he's ready. That's why tomorrow we have to be careful with him and we have to consider him.
15:46But we have to consider all the team because they play well. And like I told you, we have to
15:52be really focused on what we have to do.
15:54First of all, because we have a gap between what we want to do and what we did for the
16:00moment.
16:01But it's normal and tomorrow it's another appointment for us and we need to be higher than we were.
16:09Okay, thank you so much. And Adam, last season Crystal Palace won the first European Trophy, Conference League and now
16:16does the Tecterians approach you in a different way before Europa League? Do you feel that expectations are higher and
16:23higher now in the club?
16:26I wouldn't say there's sort of any expectation. I think the expectation last year was probably to get further than
16:35it is this year,
16:35with it obviously being a step up. But I think we can take our experience from last year and use
16:42it to our advantage.
16:44We know sort of how this format of competition works with the group stage and then into knockouts.
16:51And I think, you know, with the players that we still got from last year, we can sort of take
16:57that experience and use it to help us
17:00hopefully make our way through into the last stage of the competition.
17:04And last one from me. We all know that Lech has fans who can create an intense atmosphere during European
17:10matches.
17:10They are famous, for example, from that Poznan celebration, which is common in the Manchester City fans, for example.
17:17And have you talked maybe in the locker room a little bit what do you expect from the away group
17:21from fans at the Circus Park?
17:23No, we've not really spoke about it. Yeah, obviously they'll have a good away support.
17:30It's always good in European competitions. All the clubs, the fans like to sort of travel and support the team
17:37massively,
17:38like ours did last year. And I'm sure they will this year. So, yeah, I'm sure our fans will come
17:43in numbers as well and help support us.
17:45And we can use that to our advantage and, yeah, hopefully get a good result.
17:52Thank you. Matt.
17:53Hi, Pierre. You said that Ismail Asad could be in the team tomorrow.
17:56Is it possible that we could see him start? Is he in a position where he could potentially be able
18:01to start?
18:03Potentially.
18:06What would you need to see from or is the decision made already or is there going to be something
18:11in training before the game that will make your mind up as to whether or not he'll be involved?
18:17It's always the same. Every day, the ideas we had are challenged and that's a good thing because if not,
18:25the trainings didn't count.
18:28And that's a part really important of our project. That's why sometimes the idea would change.
18:35But for the moment, I cannot say too much because I will reply to the first question at the end.
18:42You've coached in this competition before. What can you, what did you learn from that experience that you can maybe
18:48take in with Palace?
18:50Yes. What is really important and really amazing with this competition is that you play against a lot of teams
19:01from other countries with different footballs.
19:04And you have to adapt and you have to challenge your own way to play against different contexts, against different
19:13clubs.
19:15That's why we need to be at our best because every game is difficult, especially in this phase.
19:28And we want to start really well because we are ambitious in this competition.
19:35You've got a lot of players in the squad after the summer signings.
19:39You've obviously left some out in every game so far. You have to leave them out.
19:43Do you think that that competition will bring up standards and help them to get to where you want them
19:47to be?
19:48That's the idea, yeah.
19:52There's obviously a lot of games and not so much time for training. Palace struggled with that a bit last
19:58year.
19:58You're trying to get your message across to the players. How much harder is that with less or less intense
20:04training available because of the number of games coming up because of the Europa League?
20:09The game is another form of training, if you want, because when you play, especially against different opponents, you have
20:19always the opportunity to learn things, to improve things, to regulate things.
20:23That's why we use it and we did it with the video. And the training are here for the refreshment
20:32too and to prepare the next game.
20:35That's why we use video and our games and we use the training too.
20:40Adam, what's it been like with all the new signings? How close do you think they are to sort of
20:44gelling and how have you found it getting used to all your new teammates?
20:49Yeah, I think they've settled in really well. I think it's a good group of lads that we already had
20:57from last year.
20:59So I think, you know, they've settled in pretty well. Everyone's very welcoming.
21:04And obviously the lads we've brought in are good lads as well, get on with everyone pretty easily.
21:11So that's good. And then obviously in training, just working and I think they're settling in very well.
21:17I think you can see obviously a few of them have already made an impact, which is great and the
21:23others are working hard.
21:24And I'm sure when they get the opportunities, they'll be there to help us and help us get results on
21:30the pitch.
21:31One of those new signings played alongside you, Quinton Timber. What have you made of him?
21:36And what's it been like playing alongside him? And what positives are there in his game?
21:43Yeah, he's been great since he came in. Like I said, easy to get on with everyone and straight into
21:49training and into the matches.
21:51I think you can see, especially at the weekend against Ipswich, we were down to ten men and he was
21:57still all over the pitch, winning tackles, getting us up the pitch.
22:01He had a lot of energy, which is obviously great for us and it's only going to help us.
22:07And yeah, like I said, he's had a great impact so far. And yeah, we're glad to have him.
22:14You talked about using the experience of the Conference League this year. What experience are you taking with you?
22:21What learnings are you taking with you from last year? You know, what do you want to do better? What
22:26did you do well that you're going to try and repeat this time?
22:29I think obviously you've got the different types of football from all over Europe.
22:36It's different ways of playing. It's very different to the Premier League or it was last year at least.
22:41So you've got to sort of adapt to the way you play. The game plan is different.
22:47And then obviously when it gets to the knockout stage, if you get there, it's about winning.
22:53You might not play the best, but you've got to get the job done.
22:57And we did that on a few occasions last year.
23:00So, you know, sometimes it's about sort of putting your head down, just working together as a team and getting
23:08the result at the end of the game.
23:09I think we've done that already at Fulham away this year.
23:13It wasn't our best performance, but we got the result.
23:17So, obviously, you try and perform to the best of your ability as a team as well.
23:23But it's not always possible. Sometimes you have an off day and then you've just got to make up for
23:28it with the effort and the hard work and get the result.
23:33Thank you. The gentleman here.
23:34Hello. Radosław Przybyś, Mecziki Poland. Good afternoon. First question to the boss.
23:38Do you believe you can, as a team, win Europa League? Do you consider yourself as one of the favourites?
23:44If so, why?
23:46I think if you asked the same question to the previous manager last year about conference league for the first
23:55participation, he will reply yes.
24:01So that's why I will reply yes to you.
24:04Could you explain what made you decide to join Crystal Palace? Because you left the team that qualified for the
24:11Champions League with many success, you had the opportunity to compete in the Champions League.
24:14After just one year, why did you decide to join the Crystal Palace club? What convinced you?
24:20A lot of things, especially the league, this club, their fans, a lot of criteria, if you want. But you
24:31know, when we succeeded last year, we made a good journey, if you want, in league.
24:41But we won the cup too. And at the end, I made my choice after that, by meeting the chairman
24:53here, the sporting directors of the club here too.
24:58And the project was really clear and that's why I wanted to join you.
25:03And as for now, does it go exactly as you expected or maybe there are some difficulties, some bumps on
25:09the road?
25:10It's difficult to reply after two or three months. You know, a journey is always long and we have to
25:18deal with good moments, bad moments.
25:21But at the end, when we keep the way, when we continue to improve, when we trust in us, when
25:29we trust in the process, I will be sure at the end, it's a good decision.
25:34And as Polish media, if I ask you, what Lech Poznan can expect tomorrow from the tactic, from the sporting
25:42point of view? What's your footballing idea? What would you tell?
25:46What are we going to see tomorrow on the pitch from Crystal Palace?
25:50A win of us, but in a good way. And I think the manager of Lech Poznan will reply the
25:57same thing. But now we have to deal with the risk and the safety.
26:03And it's our game plan. I don't want to tell you all the things. But we are at home. The
26:10club won last year the conference league. That's why we want to continue in this way.
26:16And we want to be better than Saturday. Not only in the way of playing, but in the result too.
26:22We need it.
26:23And one last thing. If you could help us understand what's the current status of Jean-Philippe Mateta. Is he
26:28injured or is he just not ready to play? What's going on with him?
26:32He's only injured.
26:34Okay, thank you. And just one for Adam. Do you also consider yourselves as one of the favourites to win?
26:44Do you want to add another trophy?
26:46And do you believe? No, of course you won't. Do you believe you can do that? And if so, why?
26:53Yeah, of course. If we didn't believe we could win it, then there's no point in playing tomorrow. There's no
27:01point in playing in any of the games.
27:02So, of course, we believe it. I think as footballers, you have to go into every game believing you've got
27:08a chance of winning.
27:09Otherwise, there's not really much point in playing in it. It's not very fun. So, yeah, we believe we can
27:15go very far and hopefully win the competition.
27:18Are we favourites? I don't know. There's some big clubs in the competition. Obviously, everyone's got different opinions.
27:26So, maybe to some people, favourites. Maybe to others, we're not.
27:30Thank you. Theo, last ones.
27:32Just on Lech Poznan, it's 12 goals in their first seven league games and to get to Europa League, they've
27:37found 9-2.
27:39Obviously, we've spoken a lot this season about defensively the team being not so solid.
27:42So, how big of a test will this be for them, considering how many goals Lech have scored in their
27:47opening few games?
27:49It's difficult to compare because there's really different games.
27:56We know what we need. That's not especially for this game. This is from the beginning of the season.
28:05We struggle defensively. We manage some things, but we need to improve other things now because there's consequence to the
28:16first thing.
28:16We close better inside and now we push the team on the side, but we have to prevent the crosses
28:23and to defend better the box because we took five goals like this from the beginning of the season in
28:29the Premier League.
28:31But we know that. And as said Adam, we work on that, especially this week.
28:39You know, sometimes you know the problem, you know the solution and there's a little gap between the good response
28:48on the pitch, but we need it as quick as we can.
28:51And then obviously the Ipswich game, the result didn't go your way, but you showed a lot of character coming
28:55down from 10 men to pull it back to 2-2.
28:58With the Europa League, there's going to be a lot of tough away games, a lot of tough games in
29:01general. So how important is character going to be for you?
29:05It's the beginning of all for me, because when you have the question, are you ambitious in this European Cup?
29:14Could you win it?
29:16If you don't have character, you cannot reply yes. And I think to be a high level team as we
29:26are, we need people with characters.
29:29That's why we choose the player in this way and we manage it daily because if you want to compete,
29:38you need this kind of thing.
29:40Just a couple for you, Adam. Given recent results, how important is it that you start this Europa League campaign
29:45on the right foot?
29:47Yeah, I think every game is important. You want to win every game. So tomorrow is very important for us.
29:53We want to start the European competition strong with a win, of course. But it's not the be-all and
30:03end-all.
30:05If we don't win, then we're not just going to stop the season. But yeah, of course, it would be
30:11massive.
30:12It would be a great boost of confidence and hopefully we can do it.
30:15And just finally, you were captain against Ipswich on Saturday. I know you're still only 22, but as one of
30:21the more experienced players in the group now, how much of a role have you been playing behind the scene
30:25as you continue to learn about Pierre and his system?
30:29Yeah, I think it's just part of sort of improving as a player, you know, sort of trying to work
30:37on, trying to sort of lead the team more, be more vocal during training.
30:43I think the more you sort of speak and communicate on the pitch, the easier it is as a team
30:49to sort of play together and be on the same page.
30:53I think especially with a lot of new signings, new faces, you have to communicate more because they're trying to
31:00adapt to new players, new tactics, maybe a different intensity if they've come from a different league.
31:09So I think, you know, trying to sort of communicate more and trying to have a little bit more of
31:14a leadership role sort of on the pitch is something I want to work on.
31:20I feel like I'm improving on that. But yeah, if I'm captain, if I'm not, I'm still want to sort
31:26of help the team and be someone they can look to to sort of pull us together when we might
31:32need it.
31:33And yeah, hopefully I can do that even better throughout the season.
31:36Perfect. Thank you both.
31:38Thanks very much, everybody. We'll leave you there. Thank you.
31:45Yeah.
31:46Amen.
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