Adam Wharton looked back at a 4-1 defeat for Crystal Palace against Manchester City.
‘We probably got into the positions and didn’t make the chances’
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki registered braces on Friday night at Selhurst Park. But the midfielder believed that the individual quality of the Citizens only really took over after the break.
“I think [the game got away] 15 or 20 minutes into the second-half, after their third goal. We were just too open on their transitions.
“Two of their goals were from transitions and us being open, and Phil [Foden] and Cherki being able to drive at us, with that much space, they’re going to cause danger to us and they took their chances.
“I’m disappointed. I thought we had a few good moments, and got in some good positions. We didn’t test the keeper as much as we probably should have.
“That’s probably the difference in the game today. They took their chances and we had a few half-decent ones, but also, we probably got into the positions and didn’t make the chances we should have.
“We knew the gameplan, how we wanted to get into those positions. I thought, especially in the first-half, we did it really well. But then it’s that last detail and at this level, that makes a big difference.”
The Eagles are still searching for their first victory of the new Premier League campaign, having been defeated 2-0 by Everton last week. They are getting used to a new way of life with Pierre Sage in the dugout after the exit of Oliver Glasner, and Wharton feels the group are gradually adapting.
“We’re just trying to work every day, implement the gaffer’s new way of playing and how he wants us to play in and out of possession. We improved from last week. We were in the game for longer.
“Last week we probably had a good 45 minutes at the start and then we dropped off. Tonight, it was a bit longer than that into the second-half, but we just need to keep at it, and I’m sure next week [against Fulham] we’ll be better. That’s our aim: to step up and get the win next week.”
