Pierre Sage has set out his vision for Crystal Palace after speaking publicly for the first time since being appointed as the club’s new manager.
The Frenchman arrives at Selhurst Park carrying a growing reputation following impressive spells in Ligue 1, and his first message to supporters was a simple one: he wants the club to continue giving fans reasons to be proud.
Speaking in his first interview with Palace TV, Sage made it clear that the connection between the team and its supporters will be central to everything he hopes to achieve in South London.
“We want to see them with a smile, to be proud of the team, and to be proud of the club,” he said.
“You can know that we will give our best for you – and we are together.
“From my first steps in the stadium, I understand the atmosphere. We understand that good things happen here, historical things happen.
“That’s why we have to continue in this way: because it’s special to play here, and we want to be special.”
The appointment marks another significant step in Sage’s managerial career. The 47-year-old has spent more than two decades working in various coaching and technical roles, but his rise to prominence has come during recent years with Olympique Lyonnais and RC Lens.
His work at Lyon attracted widespread attention after he inherited a side rooted to the bottom of the Ligue 1 table with only seven points. Under his leadership, Lyon produced a remarkable turnaround, winning 15 of their next 20 league matches and securing qualification for the UEFA Europa League while also reaching the Coupe de France final.
Sage then enhanced his reputation further during his single campaign at Lens. His side finished second in Ligue 1 and spent a significant portion of the season challenging Paris Saint-Germain at the summit. He also guided the club to its first-ever Coupe de France triumph, achievements that earned him the Ligue 1 Manager of the Year award.
Now, he is preparing for what he describes as the biggest challenge of his career.
“It’s amazing – for me, it’s a dream to be in England, especially in the Premier League,” he said. “This [opportunity] is a really good surprise, and a big challenge.
“For me, first of all, football came from this country and the Premier League is the best league in the world. To be here is really special, because you have to put your level at its highest position.
“We want to give our best every day for the team, for the club, for people and especially for the fans because hen you love a club in England, it’s for all of your life.
“It’s your family sometimes, and you need to keep that. We want to give them what they want.”
With several Palace players currently involved at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sage acknowledged that pre-season preparations will require flexibility. He stressed the importance of managing workloads carefully while ensuring the squad is ready for the opening weeks of the campaign.
European football will also return to Selhurst Park next season, bringing fresh opportunities and expectations. Sage believes success should only increase ambition.
“It’s a positive pressure because when you win, you want to win more,” he said.
“In Europe, I played in the Europa League two years ago and it was really exciting. You have good games with a lot of intensity. If you give your best, like you [Palace] did last year, you are able to do things that other people can’t think about.
“With a good surprise, you can make a big party at the end of the season!”
Sage also paid tribute to his predecessor, Oliver Glasner, while outlining his hopes for the future.
“[I am excited by] the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition.
“The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too. We won last year –and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.”
The new manager’s message was clear: Crystal Palace’s recent success is only the beginning, and he intends to build on the foundations already in place as the club enters another exciting chapter.
