Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has opened up about his decision to take charge in the Premier League, describing the opportunity as impossible to turn down ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash at Lyon.
The 47-year-old French coach faces an emotional return to the club where he made his breakthrough in late 2023. In an interview with AFP, Sage revealed he is only the tenth French manager to work in England's top flight, and uniquely, the first to do so with fewer than 100 matches of managerial experience under his belt.
Sage joins an elite group that includes Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger and the late Gerard Houllier, who guided Liverpool to memorable success. When asked about following in their footsteps, he acknowledged the magnitude of their achievements while explaining his own journey to the Premier League.
The former Lyon academy director took over the struggling French giants in November 2023 when they sat bottom of Ligue 1, despite having no prior top-level coaching experience. Appointed by American owner John Textor, who also previously held shares in Palace, Sage orchestrated a remarkable turnaround that saw Lyon secure European qualification and reach the French Cup final.
However, his tenure was cut short midway through the following campaign when he was dismissed. After unsuccessful talks with Championship side Queens Park Rangers, Sage bounced back spectacularly at Lens last season, leading them to their first-ever French Cup triumph and a second-place finish in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain.
These achievements caught Palace's attention as they searched for Oliver Glasner's replacement. Reflecting on his move, Sage admitted the decision was not easy given the historic success he had enjoyed in France, but ultimately he had to consider his own career progression.
A former amateur goalkeeper, Sage worked his way through coaching ranks before heading Lyon's youth development programme. He is now adapting to the differences between French football and the Premier League, beyond the obvious financial disparities that now see Palace's resources dwarf those of his former club.
After losing his opening two matches in charge, Sage has steadied the ship with Palace coming off a convincing 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest. The Eagles, who won last season's Conference League, opened their Europa League campaign with a commanding 4-0 win against Lech Poznan of Poland.
Speaking about his early observations of English football, Sage noted that matches are consistently played at high intensity by both sides, with teams rarely sitting back or ceding possession. This represents a notable shift from tactical approaches more common in France.
Thursday's fixture carries added irony as Palace were barred from Europa League participation last season due to Textor's dual ownership situation, despite winning the Conference League. Lyon, meanwhile, were permitted to compete and return this season after falling short in Champions League qualifying.
Looking ahead with optimism from his new base in south London, Sage believes Palace possess the squad quality to compete effectively across both domestic and European competitions through intelligent rotation.
