Crystal Palace defeated Nottingham Forest 3-1 in the sixth round of the Premier League. Following the match, Crystal Palace manager Sarr discussed the game in an interview. Here are his remarks:

Reporter: Securing your first home win in the Premier League, particularly against a team managed by the club's former manager, must be very satisfying for you?

Sarr: I'm delighted to get our first home win in the Premier League, but not because the opponent is managed by a former manager. As I've said, I have great respect for him and everything he did here. I thought they showed good quality today, and perhaps they deserved a better result.

Reporter: Your team didn't start well, but some fantastic saves from the goalkeeper turned things around. Can you comment on Benítez's performance?

Sarr: Our start was actually good if you overlook that one mistake, but then for the next 20 minutes we played poorly, and Benítez made some crucial saves with great composure. I think he kept us in the game, which was vital at that moment. As you saw, we led 2-1 at halftime, but if we'd gone down 0-2, the team's mentality and situation would have been very difficult. His performance today was outstanding, and I must congratulate him. It's never easy coming in as a second-choice goalkeeper. Right now, we're very satisfied with all our goalkeepers; they provide strong assurance for the team in winning matches.

Reporter: You just mentioned that Nottingham Forest perhaps deserved a better result. Do you think your team played well today? Was it good in certain phases?

Sarr: I think shortly after we conceded, we had a great chance to equalize at 1-1, but our shot went high. In certain periods, after we scored our first goal, we controlled the game. We changed our initial formation, played more directly, and competed harder for second balls. The players performed very well when dealing with second balls in tight spaces. The first goal was beautiful, and I think the third goal came in a similar manner. That's the fighting spirit of this team. We need to maintain this stability when we're leading. Although our performance after going ahead today wasn't as strong as before, we won, so we must accept that and address those details.

Reporter: Nottingham Forest created many good chances, and as you said, the goalkeeper played brilliantly, but they also wasted some opportunities. Are you concerned that your team gave the opposition so many chances today?

Sarr: Yes, it's not normal to give the opposition so many chances like we did today. We had problems in the first half, particularly in the centre where they pulled Lerma to receive the ball with his back to goal and then competed for the second ball. That remained difficult to handle in the second half. They distributed the ball to the wings, creating one-on-one situations through dribbling. We struggled defensively against that player today. His strengths are his pace and technique, but we need to be more effective in one-on-one defending.

Reporter: Most importantly, you secured the victory. Do you feel relief at achieving this home win? Does this victory also boost the players' confidence?

Sarr: As I said, a win always makes it easier for us to do our work and improve our tactics, but we must be honest about what happened on the pitch. I think everyone understands that, and each player knows it too. But I want to emphasize that they fought hard on the pitch, and sometimes that's a good way to win. We must do that and become more efficient in the game. With more matches, we can achieve this, because sometimes you can't display your full potential, but you shouldn't lose it completely. We need to maintain stability, and I think getting such a good result after the international break will help us perform better in the upcoming matches.

Reporter: Before the match, you mentioned that the team might gain confidence and team spirit, which would help influence the next three matches. Do you feel the team showed good team spirit today? How much do you think this will help in the upcoming matches?

Sarr: It's hard to measure that, but you know, after a win, you always want to keep playing. We have an important match in Lyon on Thursday, and we must be ready. I think when your mindset is calmer and free from doubt, you can improve quickly. But we know today's performance wasn't perfect, and we must accept that, while also understanding that sometimes we have to win this way. If everyone had to choose between "playing perfectly today but losing before Lyon" and "winning today," I think our current situation is more favourable for preparing for that match and the matches that follow. I don't like speaking this way because I want to see the best performance and result, but the team's performance right now is inconsistent, and we must continue working hard.

Reporter: You mentioned this match has nothing to do with the former manager, but media attention before the game was largely focused on Glasner's return. How do you keep the players calm and focused and protect them from this media distraction before the match?

Sarr: I didn't discuss that topic. During preparations, I never mentioned the former manager to the players. They know in their hearts, because as you say, there was a lot of buzz outside, but this match wasn't against Glasner—it was against Nottingham Forest, and that's what matters most. For any player, it's not about revenge or proving anything; it's just one match in a long season. We have a packed schedule in October and need to win many matches because we have ambitions in all competitions. The former manager wasn't the key to this match. I think we simply need to respect him and everything he did for this team. He helped me greatly, and this team understands his abilities, and I must thank him for that.

Reporter: You mentioned the team has ambitions in all competitions, and clearly, you're new to the role. How far do you think the team is from playing the style of football you want?

Sarr: We're capable of doing it, but now we need to do it in every match, every minute of the match, and that's the hardest part when you're starting a project like this. But as I just said, even though today wasn't perfect, you saw some of what we want to show, and most importantly, you saw our style of play. When we can do that, I think that's a good sign. The same applies to set pieces; our second goal was carefully prepared that way. That's why I must mention the set-piece coach; he does excellent work in set-piece training and provides great support to the players.

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