Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage faces increasing pressure following a heavy 5-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, raising questions about his future at the Premier League club. The French coach, who was appointed in June to replace Oliver Glasner, has overseen a challenging start to his tenure, with the team recording only two wins in ten matches under his leadership.

The loss to Brighton, one of Crystal Palace’s rivals, prompted a visibly emotional response from Sage. Speaking after the match, he acknowledged the team's poor performance and took responsibility for the result, describing his feelings as “shame” and expressing regret over the level at which his side played. “When the team plays as they did today, it’s not normal. It’s my fault,” he said. “I don’t want to accept this level. The work is really important to do and I will do it. It’s my job and I’d like to change this.”

The heavy defeat also saw a section of Crystal Palace fans leave the stadium early, a sign of growing frustration with the club’s performances. Palace have conceded 17 goals in their opening seven league games, the highest tally in the Premier League so far this season, which has compounded concerns about the defensive stability of the team.

Sage, 47, was brought in last summer after a successful spell in France, where he was recognized as manager of the year for his work at Lens. His appointment aimed to build on the progress made by his predecessor, Oliver Glasner, who is regarded as one of the club’s most successful recent managers. However, the current run of results has put Sage’s position under scrutiny, with no clear indication yet on how long the club will allow him to oversee a turnaround.

Crystal Palace had reportedly also been interested in Kieran McKenna, formerly with Ipswich Town, indicating the club’s broader search for leadership solutions.

At present, Sage remains committed to addressing the issues and improving the team’s performance, emphasizing the responsibility he bears. However, with results continuing to falter, the question of how much longer he will remain in charge remains open as pressure mounts from fans and the broader football community.