Pierre Sage openly admitted that he was irritated by Crystal Palace’s loss to Everton on the opening weekend of the Premier League. When asked whether he enjoyed his inaugural experience in the world’s most watched league, his immediate answer was "we lost," underscoring how seriously he is taking both the result and his overall role at the club. "I’m not at an amusement park, you could say that," Sage told Sky Sports ahead of the Friday clash with Manchester City. "I’m here to win games.
This is my job and I’m not happy about losing this one." He went on to explain that the defeat highlighted a gap between what the team is capable of and what it actually delivered over ninety minutes. "I realised in this game that we have the ability to do things, but it’s frustrating when you know you can do them and you don’t execute for the full duration," he said.
"We played well in the first half, and it’s not normal to drop off so dramatically in the second half." Sage stressed the need for consistency, hard work and a smoother, more fluid style of play. "We have to be more consistent, put in the work, understand each other better and play with fluency. The only solution is to keep training and improving," he added. The emphasis on winning is no surprise for a manager who achieved remarkable success with RC Lens last season.
Under his guidance Lens finished second in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint‑Germain, out‑pacing traditional powerhouses such as Marseille and Lyon, and secured a Champions League berth. The French side also captured their first Coupe de France trophy, a testament to Sage’s ability to deliver silverware. Sage’s appointment at Selhurst Park mirrors the profile of Oliver Glasner, the former manager of the club.
Both share many footballing principles, and Sage believes this similarity helped him land the three‑year contract. "I think the club chose me because my philosophy aligns with Oliver’s in many ways, even though we are still different," he explained. "He has already won here, I haven’t yet, but what matters is staying true to those principles while adding my own touch." When asked about the criticism he faced for leaving a Champions League‑contending team in France to join a club that was, at the time, playing in the Europa League, Sage responded with confidence.
"People said I was dropping from Champions League football to the Europa League, but I told them I would be playing in the Champions League every weekend," he said, referring to the possibility of qualifying for Europe with Palace. Sage’s career path is varied: he has worked as a technical director, academy coach and, most importantly, as an assistant manager. He believes the assistant role prepared him best for the pressures of being a Premier League head coach. "As an assistant I learned the training process and how to manage the squad," he said.
"Watching a lot of games helped me understand the nuances of the Premier League, which is similar everywhere but has its own intensity." He also highlighted the importance of communication across all departments within a club. "Everyone in the organisation matters. Success is a collective effort, and when we lose it’s the same. That’s why I stay connected with every area and understand each person’s job," Sage noted.
Sage previously coached Rayan Cherki at Lyon, and the forward now lines up for Manchester City, Palace’s Friday opponents. Sage spoke warmly of his former player: "I wish him the best, but not necessarily for this game.
He’s a different kind of player – he can do things that are hard to comprehend, and he plays with a child‑like joy. He brings good vibes to the team.
Football can be too serious, and I love that kind of exuberance, but when he faces us I ask him to stay quiet on the pitch." The upcoming match against Manchester City will be Sage’s first Premier League encounter at Selhurst Park, and he anticipates a charged atmosphere. "Everyone tells me the atmosphere at Selhurst is incredible, very different from other grounds, and I’m excited to experience it," he said.
"But the most important thing is the performance and the result. If we can make the fans happy at the end, that will be a great satisfaction." He acknowledged the quality of the City side, noting that the talent on their roster will make the game challenging. "When a new manager arrives there’s a lot of energy at the start because you don’t know exactly who will start.
That’s why we need to be at our best for this match," Sage added. In summary, Sage’s message to his players and supporters is clear: the club is not a theme park for casual entertainment; it is a competitive environment where every match is an opportunity to win. He expects his squad to improve consistency, maintain high work rates, and develop a smoother style of play.
By fostering unity across all club departments and drawing on his varied experience, Sage aims to guide Crystal Palace back into the conversation for European qualification and, ultimately, to challenge for trophies. Fans can watch the Friday night showdown live on Sky Sports, with kickoff scheduled for 8 pm. The match promises to be a test of Sage’s tactics, his team’s resilience, and the collective ambition to transform Selhurst Park into a fortress where victories, not amusement, are the norm.