Pierre Sage has insisted that his focus remains on improving Crystal Palace and getting the best from his players, despite growing questions about his position. The manager spent around 20 minutes addressing his future after the latest result and said decisions over his job would rest with the club’s chairman and owners.
Sage also played down the attention surrounding the team, describing it as background noise. Palace have collected seven points from their opening eight Premier League matches of the post-Glasner era, a run that has included defeats by Everton, Manchester City, Ipswich, Brighton and Newcastle.
Their results have otherwise included a win at Fulham, a goalless draw at Leeds and a victory over Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park. In Europe, Palace have lost at Lyon, Sage’s former club, and drew 2-2 with Besiktas in Istanbul on Thursday.
The latest defeat by Newcastle prompted a strong reaction from Palace supporters, while the team currently has the worst defensive record in the Premier League after conceding 19 goals in eight matches. Their next league fixture is away to improving Tottenham, followed by a home meeting with Liverpool before the international break.
French football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live that Sage’s character could be contributing to the situation. Laurens described him as a kind person who can be overly accommodating, arguing that the Premier League demands a more ruthless approach.
He pointed to Palace’s victory over Fulham as an example, saying Sage appeared sympathetic towards the beaten side even though it was Palace’s first win of the season. Palace then face Coventry City away on 21 November after the international break, raising the question of whether Sage will still be in charge by that point.
