Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage will return to Lyon on Thursday, when his side face his former club in the second matchday of the Europa League league phase, with kick-off scheduled for 18:45.
Sage previously coached Lyon and remains closely connected to the city. He said he still has a home there and, despite now being based in London, continues to describe Lyon as where he lives. He also indicated that his departure still feels recent, with his last appearance for the club coming on 17 May.
The Frenchman described himself as a Lyon native coaching Palace, drawing a comparison with Bruno Genesio, another Lyon figure who is now in charge of Marseille. That reference prompted a question about whether Sage could one day coach OM.
Sage replied that it might not be the right moment for now, but did not completely close the door. He added that there was another club a Lyonnais could not coach, without naming it. The remark was understood to be a reference to Saint-Etienne.
For now, Sage’s immediate focus is on Palace’s European meeting with Lyon, a fixture that will take him back to a club and city he still considers home.
