Sage Expresses Regret After Crystal Palace's Heavy Defeat to Brighton

Crystal Palace's manager Pierre Sage didn't hold back in his post-match reflections following the Eagles' shocking 5-0 defeat to Brighton. The Frenchman admitted to feeling a profound sense of shame over his team's performance and questioned how much longer he might have in his role. The match started disastrously for Palace, who found themselves three goals down within the first ten minutes. This marked their worst loss to their rivals since January 1956, and Sage took the blame squarely on his shoulders. "It's my fault because I am the coach. I give the motivation, I prepare the situations. We played so poorly, it’s on me," he stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Sage described the performance as difficult to summarize due to numerous negative aspects. "We started really badly. It's completely abnormal to concede three goals in this kind of game after just nine minutes," he lamented, acknowledging the need for significant changes moving forward. When pressed about his job security, Sage replied, "I don’t know," highlighting the uncertainty that looms over his position at Selhurst Park. Under the previous manager, Oliver Glasner, Palace had experienced a golden era, winning the FA Cup in 2025 and the Conference League in May. However, Sage has found it challenging to replicate that success. Currently, Palace sits 14th in the Premier League, having secured just two wins from seven games, while their defensive record is the worst in the league with 17 goals conceded. "I want to apologize to the fans. We did not perform at the level we expected, and I sincerely regret that because I understand how vital this is for them," Sage added, acknowledging the disconnect between expectations and reality. Reflecting on his emotions after the match, he said, "Only one feeling - shame. When you play in a game like this, you need to show a different face. Unfortunately, we showed our worst side today." Looking ahead, Palace will face Besiktas in Turkey for their Europa League clash on Thursday before returning to Premier League action against Newcastle at home on Sunday. Since Sage took over, the team has recorded four wins, one draw, and five losses across his first ten matches.