Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage attack-minded style questioned internally

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage attack-minded style questioned internally After being thrashed 5-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, Pierre Sage is going through a turbulent period at Crystal Palace. Under pressure, but having secured a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend, the former RC Lens manager had granted himself a few days’ respite. But the 3-2 defeat to Olympique Lyonnais in the Europa League last Thursday quickly reignited growing unease amongst the Eagles’ observers and supporters. According to reports in L’Équipe , some within the club are reportedly questioning Sage’s attacking style, which is somewhat at odds with the counter-attacking approach favoured by his predecessor, Oliver Glasner. To impose his vision of the game, the Frenchman is said to have called for signings more in line with this approach, particularly in defence, where he was looking for pace. However, the vagaries of the transfer window have somewhat disrupted his plans, forcing him to make do with the players currently at his disposal. A change in approach which, incidentally, is said to have unsettled some players, highlighting in particular the difference in temperament between Sage and Glasner. A hero at Lens, the 47-year-old tactician must now find ways to get back on track and turn his team’s fortunes around (five defeats and one draw against four wins). It remains to be seen how much time he will have left to achieve this. GFFN | Léo Aschi