Crystal Palace were overwhelmed in Sunday’s derby, conceding three times inside the opening 10 minutes before Brighton completed a comprehensive victory. The result raised further questions about a defence that has struggled throughout the opening weeks of the campaign.
Sage made no attempt to deflect responsibility after the final whistle, apologising to supporters for the performance and acknowledging that his team had fallen well short of the club’s expectations.
“I want to apologise to the supporters, because it is unusual to see our club show this face against another club, and we are not at the level we hoped to reach. I am really sorry, because I know how much it means to them,” he said.
The manager also accepted that the responsibility for the performance rested with him.
“I am responsible for this team, and when it plays like it did today, that is not normal. It is my fault, and I understand the supporters,” Sage said.
His comments came after some Palace fans left Brighton’s stadium before the final whistle, with the scale of the defeat adding to the frustration surrounding the team’s defensive performances.
According to the Daily Mail, Palace’s hierarchy have concerns about Sage’s approach, while relations between the manager and senior figures at the club are reportedly strained. The newspaper suggested he could be at risk of losing his job, although Palace had not announced a decision on his future.
The numbers help explain the growing concern. Palace had conceded 17 goals in their first seven Premier League matches, giving them the division’s worst defensive record at the time of the report. The Brighton defeat followed a 3-0 loss to Lyon, leaving the Eagles with eight goals conceded across those two fixtures.
That sequence has undone some of the progress made before the international break. Palace had recorded more encouraging results in the run-up to the pause and then beaten Nottingham Forest after the return to domestic action, but the consecutive heavy defeats have put Sage under renewed pressure.
The challenge is particularly acute because Palace face a demanding run of fixtures across the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup. The schedule leaves limited time to work on the problems exposed against Lyon and Brighton, while every further setback is likely to intensify scrutiny.
Sage acknowledged after the derby that he did not know whether he would be given time to turn things around. His immediate priority is to restore defensive organisation and ensure Palace compete more effectively, but the decision ultimately rests with the club’s leadership.
For now, the prospect of a managerial change remains a report rather than a confirmed outcome. However, after a humiliating derby defeat and growing questions about the team’s direction, Sage faces an important period in his attempt to keep the Palace job.