Sage admits “shame” after Palace’s 5-0 drubbing, future uncertain
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage said he felt “shame” following the club’s 5-0 defeat to Brighton, and he could not say whether he would be given the time to try to rescue his job. The loss, which saw Palace concede three goals inside the first ten minutes, was the worst they have suffered at the hands of their rivals since January 1956.
“It’s my fault because I am the coach, I gave the motivation. I prepare the situations. We played so bad it’s my fault,” the Frenchman, appointed in the summer, told reporters. “It’s difficult to summarise because there are a lot of negative points. We started really bad. It’s completely not normal to concede three goals in this kind of game after nine minutes. I prepare the team, that is why I am responsible for what’s happened on the pitch. I have a lot of work to do because I have to change this kind of thing.”
When asked if he would be granted time to reverse Palace’s poor form, Sage replied, “I don’t know.”
Under former boss Oliver Glasner, Palace enjoyed the most successful period in club history, winning the FA Cup for the first time in 2025 and then capturing the Europa League in May. Sage, who arrived after leading Lens to the French Cup final and a second‑place finish in Ligue 1 last season, has had a difficult start at Selhurst Park.
Palace sit 14th in the Premier League after two wins from seven games, but they have already let in 17 goals, the most of any top‑flight side. “I just want to apologise to the fans,” Sage said. “We were not at the level we expected, and I’m really sorry for that because I know how important it is for them, but we didn’t show today that it’s really important for us too.”
On his emotions after the match, he added, “Only one feeling – shame. When you play this kind of game you have to show another face. It was our worst face.”
Palace have recorded one win and one loss in their two Europa League fixtures and travel to Turkey on Thursday to face Besiktas before returning to Premier League action on Sunday at home against Newcastle.
Image: Getty Images. Caption: Crystal Palace have won four, drawn one and lost five of Pierre Sage’s ten games in charge.