Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage will make an emotional return to Lyon on Thursday when his side visit the Groupama Stadium in the Europa League. Sage was in charge of the French club during their remarkable revival in 2024, taking over when they were bottom of Ligue 1 before leading them to sixth place and a place in the Europa League.
The fixture carries a personal significance for the 2024 Lyon manager, who still has a home in the area. Speaking before the match, Sage said he remained “a little bit Lyonnais” and that, despite living in London, he still described himself as being from Lyon. He also acknowledged that this return should be easier than his first, with the emotional element needing to be set aside in order to focus on securing a positive result for Palace.
Sage’s rise at Lyon began when he was asked to take charge during a period of upheaval in December 2023. The team had collected only seven points from their opening 14 league matches, but went on to claim 46 points from their next 22 games. Their sixth-place finish was confirmed with a dramatic late penalty that secured European football.
His departure from Lyon later came after the club changed direction and appointed Paulo Fonseca. Fonseca said he was pleased to face his predecessor, describing Sage as a very strong coach and praising the tactical challenge posed by his teams. Lyon midfielder Tyler Morton also said he had heard plenty about Sage and recognised his work at Crystal Palace and in the Premier League.
Sage’s move to London followed an outstanding campaign with Lens, according to his close friend Karim Mokeddem, who also highlighted the contribution of Palace assistant Jamal Alioui. Mokeddem said Sage had entered a different environment in England, where performing well was not enough and victories were demanded. Thursday’s contest will therefore represent both a significant European test for Palace and a poignant return for the coach who helped create Lyon’s recent miracle.
