Pierre Sage retains the full confidence of Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, despite the Eagles’ challenging start to the Premier League season. Palace have taken four points from their opening five league matches, with one victory, but Parish remains encouraged by the direction of the team under its new head coach.
Speaking in a lengthy interview with The Athletic, Parish assessed Sage’s record after seven matches as three wins, three defeats and one draw. He believes that represents a respectable beginning given the circumstances the Frenchman has had to manage since replacing Oliver Glasner this summer.
Palace’s preparations were disrupted by the World Cup, while several new signings arrived late in the window. Parish said Sage had handled those difficulties particularly well and dismissed suggestions of tension surrounding the management of certain players, insisting that the club is aligned and moving forward together.
The chairman’s approval extends beyond the results. He has been impressed by the improvement in Palace’s football and by the enjoyment shown by the players. Sage has retained the same system while introducing a different approach, with Parish viewing the performance against Leeds as evidence of how far the team has developed compared with the beginning of the campaign.
Parish also praised the work of Sage and his staff in taking Palace to their current position. The former Lens coach is continuing to adapt to life in England and is still taking English lessons, although Parish believes his command of the language is already better than Sage himself thinks.
