Pierre Sage’s position as Crystal Palace manager is under serious scrutiny after a difficult opening to his three-year tenure. The Frenchman has won only two of his first seven Premier League matches, while Palace’s 17 goals conceded is the highest total in the division. Sunday’s 5-0 defeat by Brighton has intensified the pressure ahead of a decisive run of fixtures.
There is some sympathy for Sage within the club, with injuries and the situations involving Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr complicating the start of his reign. Both players have been affected by fitness and personal issues linked to their desire to leave Palace.
The scale of the squad changes since the club’s recent successes has also been noted. Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Maxence Lacroix, Daniel Munoz and Marc Guehi have all left Selhurst Park since the summer of 2024, while former sporting director Dougie Freedman’s departure in 2025 has also been felt. Matt Hobbs, who replaced Freedman, is under scrutiny alongside Sage.
However, Palace’s defensive record is a major concern. The club’s recent progress under Oliver Glasner and Roy Hodgson was built on defensive organisation, but conceding 17 times in seven league matches puts the team on course to allow 92 goals across the season. Personnel has played a part, with Guehi, Lacroix and Munoz all departing, while Jaydee Canvot and Honest Ahanor were among the young centre-backs used in the Brighton defeat. Palace’s summer defensive additions included Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben Chilwell and Oscar Mingueza on free transfers, with Axel Disasi and Ahanor arriving on loan.
The club has also faced significant difficulty meeting UEFA financial rules, restricting its options in the transfer market and contributing to Munoz’s £22m sale to Nottingham Forest. Those circumstances provide context for Sage’s problems, but have not eased the concern surrounding his position. Palace were unable to appoint first-choice target Andoni Iraola after Glasner’s departure, highlighting the challenge of finding a replacement if a change is made.
Sage now has the opportunity to alter the mood in matches against Besiktas in the Europa League and Newcastle in the Premier League. Positive results could give him a chance to rebuild momentum, but further defeats may leave chairman and co-owner Steve Parish facing a decision over the manager’s future.
