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"Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same," Pierre Sage said after replacing the man who delivered an FA Cup, a European trophy and Community Shield during two years in charge at Selhurst Park.
asserted
who → achieve → Park
Four months into a three-year contract, the Frenchman is already under big pressure after a fifth defeat in eight Premier League games left the Eagles in the bottom four.
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defeat → leave → bottom
Palace have failed to win their past four games and Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle was greeted with boos from home fans, who had turned up hoping to see a positive response after last weekend's 5-0 humiliation at fierce rivals Brighton.
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who → fail → Brighton
"There is no noise inside the club," said Sage when asked about his future in his post-match media conference.
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Sage → be → conference
"The boos are normal because we don't have the result.
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we → have → result
"The noise is the consequence of the result of the team, and at the moment we don't have what we expect.
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we → have → what
How to be better, how to create the conditions to compete, and we will continue our work, and there's no noise inside
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we → create → work
Asked about boos from home fans during the match and at full-time, Sage accepted it was an expected response after failing to win.
"
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it → ask → time
It's normal that people lose patience when you lose, because everybody wants to win.
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everybody → lose → patience
Sage was named Ligue 1 manager of the year after leading Lens to a second-place finish as well as a French Cup triumph.
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Sage → name → finish
But could time already be running out for the 47-year-old?
uncertain
time → run → old
Sage 'too nice at times'
Sage struck a defiant tone during his post-match media conference as he addressed questions about his future for 20 minutes.
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he → strike → minutes
"I don't have to convince the people around the club.
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I → have → club
I just have to convince the players to do their best to compete and to continue to improve," he added when asked further about his job.
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he → have → job
Palace have just seven points from their first eight league games in the post-Glasner era.
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Palace → have → era
After losing to Everton and Manchester City in their first two matches, Palace won at Fulham before losing at home to newly promoted Ipswich.
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Palace → lose → Ipswich
They secured a rare clean sheet in a goalless draw at Leeds before coming from behind to beat Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on 11 October.
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They → secure → October
They have since lost at his former club Lyon in the Europa League, and Brighton, before drawing 2-2 against Besiktas in Istanbul on Thursday.
However, patience is clearly wearing thin after fans reacted to the latest defeat by Newcastle.
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fans → lose → Newcastle
In addition, Palace have the worst defensive record in the Premier League after conceding 19 goals in eight games.
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Palace → have → games
Their next Premier League match is at improving Tottenham next Saturday, before hosting Liverpool on 8 November going into the international break.
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match → improve → break
French football expert Julien Laurens said Sage needed to be more ruthless.
"He's a lovely guy.
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He → say → ?
He's maybe a little bit too nice at times," Laurens, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, added.
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Laurens → speak → Radio
"Remember when Crystal Palace beat Fulham earlier in the season?
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Palace → remember → season
That was Palace's first win of the season and he felt sorry for Fulham.
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he → feel → Fulham
"You don't feel sorry in this league.
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You → feel → league
You can't feel sorry for the opposition you have just beaten, especially when this is your first win and you needed it badly.
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you → feel → it
Sage's Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and a willingness to attack quickly once they won the ball back.
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they → build → ball
The Opta numbers showed a team intent on regaining possession high up the pitch.
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numbers → show → pitch
Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, frequently turning those moments into chances - producing 69 shots and seven goals.
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Lens → make → shots
However, Palace are clearly struggling to fire under Sage's leadership.
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Palace → struggle → leadership
"He needs to do things slightly differently," added Laurens.
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Laurens → need → things
Former Manchester United and England forward Dion Dublin said Sage needed to be tougher if he is to have a long-term future at Palace.
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he → say → Palace
"It's no good being lovely with everything," added Dublin, also speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.
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Dublin → add → Radio
You will just lose games and get sacked."
Former Leeds United forward Lucy Ward told 5 Live: "He has proved himself at Lyon and Lens.
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He → lose → Lyon
Being a little bit too nice doesn't help."
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Being → help → ?
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