As Pierre Sage waited to obtain the Coupe de France trophy because the victorious supervisor of RC Lens final Could, he turned to his workers and stated: “Do you realise the place we’re?”
Sage had simply led the membership to a primary French Cup title in its historical past whereas plotting a course to complete second in Ligue 1, its joint-best league place in over 20 years – all in his first season in cost.
Having managed solely 56 skilled video games previous to becoming a member of the membership, he had turn into the rising star of French soccer nearly in a single day.
Lower than six months on, the 47-year-old could also be glad he took that second to embrace the nice instances.
For the reason that irresistible lure of the Premier League tempted him to the Crystal Palace dugout in July, he now finds himself second-favourite to be the following managerial casualty within the prime flight on the helm of an Eagles facet languishing within the relegation zone with the worst defence within the division.
Half a yr on from their very own historic cup success, Palace have plummeted like a stone and will finish this weekend backside of the Premier League if they’re overwhelmed by Liverpool on Sunday, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Sunday eighth November 12:30pm
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Shedding their final three league video games with out scoring and conceding 9 instances has left Sage’s place in inevitable jeopardy earlier than he has even managed 10 league video games in England.
However even because the Eagles fell two behind of their newest defeat at Tottenham on Saturday evening, there was no concerted outpouring of frustration from the away finish in direction of the pinnacle coach. The followers know in addition to Sage does, now not less than, what he has walked into and there are wider issues which is able to stay at Selhurst Park, even when Sage exits.
He didn’t maintain again after that defeat. “It is a catastrophe,” he advised Sky Sports activities. Except for outcomes, that might simply level to the injury attributable to the departures of Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix final summer season and the replacements struggling to emulate their high quality.
Or lacking Ismaila Sarr, whose absence following his 21-goal haul final season has been harshly felt. Or the type of Adam Wharton, who has turn into a shadow of his earlier self in three months. Or that Jean-Philippe Mateta had simply acquired himself despatched off 13 minutes into his second Premier League begin since August – and can now miss the following three video games.
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Pierre Sage admitted he was nonetheless getting used to the Premier League after defeat at Spurs however was adamant issues will come good at Crystal Palace
Sage could also be nicely suggested to keep away from strolling beneath any ladders with the extent to which his luck appears out. Although past that, there are additionally pertinent inquiries to ask relating to Palace’s rationale that he was a very good match for his or her squad within the first place.
His first downside could have dropped into his in-tray lengthy earlier than he even took the job. Marc Guehi’s sale to Manchester Metropolis in mid-January, with out a substitute, noticed Oliver Glasner’s Palace ship 26 objectives of their remaining 16 video games at a fee much more porous than Palace’s defence this season.
It was clear a rebuild was essential – and potential, after banking strong sums for Guehi and Eberechi Eze throughout the earlier 12 months. Much more so following the departures of Munoz and Lacroix.
That may show director of soccer Matt Hobbs’ first actual check since succeeding Dougie Freedman. The outcomes have been combined at finest.
Munoz’s substitute Anan Khalaili is creating possibilities at barely half the speed of the Colombian whereas loanee centre-back Axel Disasi has been unable to match Lacroix’s dominance in defence, successful solely 54 per cent of his aerial duels. That has not helped with transport 5 objectives from set-pieces already, a report solely overwhelmed by his father or mother membership Chelsea.
Changing half a group’s value of expertise in Eze, Guehi, Munoz, Lacroix and Michael Olise throughout the final two years was by no means going to be straightforward however whereas Palace look on enviously as outdated rivals Brighton thrive regardless of having their finest gamers picked off, it’s arduous to argue any new arrival at Selhurst Park has come near filling their precedessor’s footwear bar Jeremy Pino.
Of those that nonetheless stay at Selhurst Park, Sage has been robbed of Palace’s most worthwhile attacking outlet from final season with Sarr, who scored 21 objectives from 45 video games, struck down by a recurrence of a groin harm.
Palace’s league objectives dried up by nearly half to simply 0.71 a recreation when he was unavailable final season although even then, Mateta nonetheless managed to plunder 12 as their prime league goalscorer. The pair have been on the pitch for a mixed complete of simply 183 league minutes from a potential 1,170 beneath the brand new head coach.
Wharton must be Palace’s finest participant regardless, however Sarr’s availability and the absence of Munoz has had a knock-on impact on him too with few gamers ready for early balls ahead when he’s in possession.
His lack of rhythm could have affected his out-of-possession recreation too. Over the earlier two seasons Wharton received the ball again within the center third greater than thrice a recreation on common. Now his tally sits barely above one.
The 22-year-old would possible have thrived in Sage’s Lens system final season, constructed round throttling opponents, excessive turnovers and fast transitions. His skill to select a go and spot a runner would have offered a harmful weapon, simply because it had finished for Glasner’s Palace.
However this isn’t that facet. And that may be a downside in itself, as a result of Sage’s beliefs haven’t modified. When requested about Palace’s porous defence after defeat to Newcastle final week, he replied: “My concept is that one of the best ways of defending is to have the ball, as a result of then you definitely can not concede.”
He inherited a group which had racked up 42 per cent possession or much less in 19 video games in 2025/26, additionally contributing seven of its 11 wins. Since he got here in Palace have received the possession battle simply twice and solely two sides have seen much less of the ball. Holding it as he would really like isn’t their forte and their objectives in opposition to column is paying the value.
Sage is clearly a proficient coach to the purpose he was briefly on Liverpool’s radar this summer season, however the 3-4-2-1 he deployed at Lens which can have lured Palace in was predicated on opposition-half strain and excessive tempo relatively than the counter-attacking unit Palace have turn into identified for.
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Spurs fell to a 3rd straight defeat with out scoring as Tottenham beat them 2-0 on Saturday evening
His Lens facet produced the second-most excessive turnovers ending in a shot final season. No group has managed fewer throughout the Premier League this season than Sage’s Palace.
Past the opposite points, it presents a query of whether or not he could be the correct match on the mistaken time. His calls for sit far nearer to that of Iraola who, satirically, Palace courted for therefore lengthy this summer season earlier than he joined Liverpool and whose Bournemouth group have been additionally far totally different stylistically to the Eagles.
Ultlimately, ought to the membership’s poor kind proceed and his place turn into untenable then maybe it isn’t a lot as a result of he’s the mistaken man for Palace, however they aren’t the correct membership for him.