Pierre Sage insists there is no internal unrest at Crystal Palace

Pierre Sage says there is no internal unrest at Crystal Palace. His remarks follow his side’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United in the Premier League, with pressure mounting around the French manager.

The match took place at Selhurst Park on Saturday. William Osula and Harvey Barnes scored in the second half. The result drew boos from some of the home support and intensified scrutiny of Sage, who took over from Oliver Glasner during the summer. His start in the job has been difficult, with Crystal Palace struggling to put together consistent results.

Asked about his position after the Newcastle match, Sage rejected suggestions of turmoil behind the scenes. “There is no internal unrest at the club,” he said. He also acknowledged the reaction from supporters: “It is normal to hear boos when you don’t get results. It is a consequence of the team’s results, and right now we are not delivering what we expect.”

The manager said the focus was on finding solutions and creating the conditions to perform better. “We have to improve and create the right conditions to compete. We will continue our work, and there is no unrest inside the club,” he said.

The results have left Crystal Palace 17th in the Premier League, just above the relegation zone. Palace’s position has added to the pressure on Sage, appointed at Selhurst Park to continue the progress made during Glasner’s tenure. Glasner left after guiding Crystal Palace to the Conference League title.

Sage believes he can improve the team’s fortunes. He said the question of his future had never been raised with club chairman Steve Parish, despite their regular contact. On the pitch, he acknowledged defensive problems and a lack of control: “When we concede all these goals, you can interpret that through the style of play and also how well we are playing, especially defensively.” He also set out his view of how to defend: “My way, my idea, is that the best way to defend is to have the ball.” He nevertheless conceded that the team still needed to improve, despite allowing fewer chances from open play in this match.