Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage confessed he experienced deep "shame" following a crushing 5-0 defeat to rivals Brighton, admitting he is unsure if he will be afforded the time to turn things around. The Eagles suffered their heaviest defeat to their rivals since January 1956, enduring a nightmare start that saw them trail by three goals inside the opening 10 minutes of the match.
Sage, who was appointed during the summer, accepted full responsibility for the collapse and offered an apology to the Palace fanbase. Emphasising that conceding three goals within nine minutes was completely abnormal, the Frenchman stated that preparing and motivating the squad is his duty and therefore the blame is entirely his. Asked if he expects time from the club to resolve the slump, Sage honestly conceded, "I don't know," after watching his team present their "worst face" on the pitch.
The heavy setback compounds an increasingly difficult start for Sage at Selhurst Park following his switch from Lens, where he had achieved a second-place Ligue 1 finish and a French Cup title. Replacing Oliver Glasner—who led the club through its most triumphant era by capturing their first-ever FA Cup in 2025 and the Conference League in May—Sage has overseen four victories, one draw, and five losses across his 10 games at the helm. Palace currently occupy 14th place in the Premier League table with two wins from seven fixtures, having conceded 17 goals, more than any other top-flight side.
With questions now hanging over his position, Sage must quickly prepare his squad for upcoming domestic and continental commitments. Crystal Palace, who have recorded one victory and one loss from two Europa League matches, will journey to Turkey on Thursday to face Besiktas before hosting Newcastle in Premier League action on Sunday.