Sage's Palace Future in Doubt After 5-0 Brighton Humiliation

Sage Admits Responsibility After Record Defeat

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has said he feels "shame" following his side's 5-0 thrashing by Brighton and admitted he does not know whether he will be given time to save his job. The Eagles conceded three times in the opening 10 minutes, suffering their worst loss to their rivals since January 1956.

"It's my fault because I am the coach, I gave the motivation. I prepare the situations. We played so bad it's my fault," said the Frenchman, who was only appointed Palace manager in the summer.

"It's difficult to summarise because there are a lot of negative points. We started really bad. It's completely not normal to concede three goals in this kind of game after nine minutes. I prepare the team, that is why I am responsible of what's happened on the pitch. I have a lot of work to do because I have to change this kind of thing."

Asked if he will get time to turn Palace's poor form around, he said: "I don't know."

Injury Concerns Add to Palace's Woes

While the focus has been on the scoreline, the defeat raises further questions about squad availability and fitness at Selhurst Park. Sage's side looked underprepared and overrun from the outset, and the manager's post-match comments suggest deeper issues beyond just tactics.

Palace are currently 14th in the Premier League, and with key players potentially unavailable, Sage faces an uphill battle to steady the ship. The club's injury situation has been a talking point in recent weeks, and the heavy defeat to Brighton will only intensify scrutiny on the medical and coaching staff.

Under his predecessor Oliver Glasner, Palace enjoyed the most successful phase in the club's history, lifting the FA Cup for the first time in 2025 and then winning the Conference League in May. But Sage has had a tough start since arriving after guiding Lens to the French Cup and second in Ligue 1 last season.

What Next for Palace?

With the international break approaching, Palace have a chance to regroup and assess their injury list. However, Sage's future remains uncertain, and the club's hierarchy may be forced to act if results do not improve quickly.

For now, the manager is taking full responsibility. "I have a lot of work to do," he admitted. Whether he gets the time to do it remains to be seen.

Palace fans will be hoping for a swift turnaround, but with key players potentially sidelined, the task looks daunting. The next few weeks could define their season — and Sage's tenure.

Stay tuned to latest football news for further updates on Palace's injury situation and managerial developments.