Sage on finding solutions at Palace and visiting De Zerbi for ideas

Sage says Palace's difficult start is an opportunity to improve as a coach; the side showed signs of progress in Wednesday's Carabao Cup win at Fulham.

Pierre Sage has turned his focus to the positives after a difficult start to his Crystal Palace tenure. Following a 5-0 defeat to Brighton and four games without a win, Palace earned a much-needed Carabao Cup victory at Fulham on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals.

Sage told Sky Sports he views the adversity as a chance to develop as a coach. "Maybe you will think my answer is crazy but I think it's an opportunity for me to become a better coach," he said. "Faced with the difficulty, the problem, you have to find a solution I didn't anticipate." He believes the team showed encouraging signs in the second half at Craven Cottage and that the work being done behind the scenes is laying foundations for improvement.

Palace face Tottenham on Saturday, another side hoping to turn around a difficult season. Sage has previously studied former Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi's methods, travelling to Italy to observe his coaching. "He was a model for a long time," Sage said. "I went to Rome, to Sassuolo. I wanted to understand how he plays." The, former Palace manager is confident that with commitment and unity, his side can achieve success playing in their own distinctive style.