This season, following Glasner's departure, French manager Pierre Sage took over Crystal Palace, leading the team to its first home victory in the Premier League this round. In the early hours of October 13, Beijing Time (CET), British media outlet The Sun published an exclusive article discussing Sage's interesting experiences before joining Crystal Palace. The full compilation follows.

There is a new man in charge at Selhurst Park, and his name is Pierre Sage. The Crystal Palace manager is accustomed to being underestimated, overlooked, and even written off.

But it is precisely by constantly defying external expectations and proving the skeptics wrong that the Frenchman has built his career. Unlike his predecessor Oliver Glasner — who arrived in south London with a notable playing career and a UEFA Europa League title with Eintracht Frankfurt — Sage has always been viewed as an outsider.

However, the 47-year-old Sage is determined to prove that his miraculous season at Lens was no accident. Though results have not always been favorable, his start at Crystal Palace has brought considerable encouragement.

But it is off the pitch that his human touch is truly beginning to make an impression.

Sources within Crystal Palace reveal that Sage has demonstrated exceptional understanding of his players' personal situations, knowing exactly when to act as head coach, when to adopt a paternal role, and when to be like an older brother, offering a comforting arm around the shoulder.

Take, for example, star player Ismaïla Sarr. The Senegalese international was deeply affected when his long-desired transfer to Liverpool failed to materialize during the summer window.

Rather than simply demanding that he overcome his disappointment, Sage gave the winger time and space to recover physically and mentally, gradually reintegrating him into the main squad.

Sources close to Sarr expressed surprise at the empathy demonstrated by the Crystal Palace manager, especially once it became clear the player would remain at Selhurst Park.

Sage extended this understanding to other squad members, reassuring those who needed convincing that there is still much to fight for if everyone works together.

Sunday provided perhaps the clearest sign that his philosophy is taking hold.

Crystal Palace's 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest — now managed by Glasner — not only gave Sage his first home win in the Premier League as a manager but also offered loyal Selhurst Park supporters a glimpse of what the future may hold.

In many ways, the French manager is attempting to replicate the miracle he created at Lens last season. When he took over the unfancied team in summer 2024, few expected them to challenge the traditional powerhouses of French football.

Yet Sage led the team to finish second in Ligue 1, just six points behind the mighty Paris Saint-Germain, and secured a return to the Champions League.

More remarkably still, he guided Lens to their first Coupe de France title, ending a 120-year wait for the trophy.

That season completely transformed his reputation and left a lasting impression on the players who served under his command.

Malang Sarr, former Chelsea centre-back who played under Sage at Lens, believes Crystal Palace supporters will soon discover how special their new manager is.

He told The Sun: "You will see, the fans will gradually start to like him. He doesn't like to show many emotions, but he sees everything. Last year, he created a fantastic atmosphere with a clear tactical style, and we all really enjoyed it.

"I think he will try to do that again in the Premier League. He is very good at making players want to play for him, which is usually very important, so let's wait and see."

Sage also brings a philosophical mentality to his new environment, one born from experiences vastly different from those of typical Premier League managers. Perhaps the most direct manifestation of his thinking appeared during the summer transfer window, when supporters desperately called for new signings and high-profile acquisitions.

Rather than complain about the club's finances, Sage drew on experiences gained from his parents, who ran a restaurant in the small town of Belley in eastern France.

He told The Guardian: "I am not frustrated. We are not a bank. We live within our means. My parents had a restaurant, and while I hoped for many customers every day, sometimes that was not the case, and we had to deal with it every day. Football is the same."

For someone who knows what it means to work your way up from the bottom, that response is refreshing and grounded.

Unlike most Premier League managers, Sage never played professional football. He dreamed of being a goalkeeper, but his career remained at amateur level.

Instead, he began coaching youth teams at age 16 and spent years honing his coaching skills in places far from the spotlight of Europe's major stadiums.

He also helped his parents run the restaurant and, while coaching Annemasse's under-19 team, he even personally drove the team bus to matches.

There were no glamorous settings, huge budgets, or superstars to manage. Just a young coach eager to learn and driven by unwavering determination to reach the top.

As the saying goes, if you stay in the barber shop long enough, eventually it's your turn to cut hair. For Sage, years spent studying football, working behind the scenes, and patiently waiting for his chance finally paid off.

His journey as a manager began in Lyon's youth system, followed by a spell at Red Star under former Newcastle centre-back Habib Beye.

Later, he returned to Lyon as head of youth development until an unexpected opportunity changed his professional trajectory.

In November 2023, following Fabio Grosso's dismissal, Sage was appointed interim manager of the first team. At the time, Lyon was in serious trouble, languishing in the lower reaches of Ligue 1 and facing a humiliating battle against relegation.

But Sage led the team to a remarkable turnaround, guiding them to sixth place and European qualification. In return, he received a permanent contract until 2026, though that fairytale experience ended prematurely due to poor results — he was sacked in January 2025.

For some managers, such a setback can be difficult to overcome. But for Sage, it opened another extraordinary chapter.

After the team finished eighth in the league, England manager Will Still moved to Southampton, and Lens extended an invitation to Sage. The following season would be unforgettable for anyone connected with the French club.

Malian midfielder Amadou Haidara, who played under Sage at Lens, told The Sun that his former manager's ability to build confidence in the dressing room was key to their success.

He said: "He is an intelligent manager. I think he gets on well with the people he works with, and the confidence he builds shows on the pitch. If Sage can get things running smoothly, Crystal Palace fans will have a special season.

"I think he will be successful in the Premier League because he has all the qualities needed."

Of course, whether Sage can replicate these extraordinary achievements in English football remains to be seen. Since taking charge at Selhurst Park, he has recorded four wins, one draw, and three defeats in his first eight official matches.

But Sunday's victory over Nottingham Forest — a team led by the same manager he replaced at Crystal Palace — means much more than just three more points.

It was a statement of ambition, a reminder that even when circumstances seem against him, Sage can still find a way.

For a manager who spent much of his career waiting for others to believe in him, such a victory fosters something perhaps even more valuable than confidence.

It may be nothing more than the spark that ignites a small flame into a roaring fire.

Traduzido por IA.

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