Pressure grows on Sage as fans turn on Palace boss

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Pressure grows on Sage as fans turn on Palace boss
- Published
"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.
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.
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.
"There is no noise inside the club," said Sage when asked about his future in his post-match media conference.
"The boos are normal because we don't have the result.
"The noise is the consequence of the result of the team, and at the moment we don't have what we expect.
"Inside, we are just really focused on solutions. How to be better, how to create the conditions to compete, and we will continue our work, and there's no noise inside."
Asked about boos from home fans during the match and at full-time, Sage accepted it was an expected response after failing to win.
"It's normal that people lose patience when you lose, because everybody wants to win. Today it was not the case."
Sage was named Ligue 1 manager of the year after leading Lens to a second-place finish as well as a French Cup triumph.
But could time already be running out for the 47-year-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.
"I don't have to convince the people around the 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.
"After that, this kind of decision is for the chairman, to the owners, this kind of person.
"For me, the noise around the team, the noise around the club, it's only noise."
Palace have just seven points from their first eight league games in the post-Glasner 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.
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.
That was their last win.
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.
In addition, Palace have the worst defensive record in the Premier League after conceding 19 goals in eight games.
Their next Premier League match is at improving Tottenham next Saturday, before hosting Liverpool on 8 November going into the international break.
Palace's first game back is at fellow strugglers Coventry City on 21 November.
Will Sage still be in charge by then?
French football expert Julien Laurens said Sage needed to be more ruthless.
"He's a lovely guy. He's maybe a little bit too nice at times," Laurens, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, added.
"Remember when Crystal Palace beat Fulham earlier in the season? That was Palace's first win of the season and he felt sorry for Fulham.
"You don't feel sorry in this league. This Premier League is ruthless. It's the top, top level. This is the best league in the world.
"You can't feel sorry for the opposition you have just beaten, especially when this is your first win and you needed it badly.
"But this is the kind of guy that he is."
'No good being lovely with everything'
Sage's Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and a willingness to attack quickly once they won the ball back.
The Opta numbers showed a team intent on regaining possession high up the pitch.
Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, frequently turning those moments into chances - producing 69 shots and seven goals.
However, Palace are clearly struggling to fire under Sage's leadership.
"He needs to do things slightly differently," added Laurens. "There is pressure everywhere in the Premier League."
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.
"It's no good being lovely with everything," added Dublin, also speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Things can't be lovely when you are a Premier League manager. 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. Being a little bit too nice doesn't help."

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