Sage says he feels "shame" after 5-0 loss to Brighton and is unsure over his future

On 18 October 2026 Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage said he felt "shame" after his side were thrashed 5-0 by Brighton in a Premier League fixture at Brighton. He added he did not know whether he would be given time to save his job.

Palace conceded three times in the opening 10 minutes and suffered their heaviest defeat to their rivals since January 1956. Sage was appointed as Palace manager in the summer. Under his predecessor Oliver Glasner, Palace lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 2025 and then won the Conference League in May. Sage arrived after guiding Lens to the French Cup and to second place in Ligue 1 last season, and Palace sit 14th in the Premier League with two wins from seven games and 17 goals conceded, the most in the top flight.

"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 Sage. He added: "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."

He said: "It's difficult to summarise because there are a lot of negative points." Sage also said: "We started really bad. It's completely not normal to concede three goals in this kind of game after nine minutes."

Asked whether he will be allowed time to turn Palace's form around, he replied: "I don't know." He apologised to supporters, saying: "I just want to apologise to the fans. We were not at the level we expected, and I'm really sorry for that because I know how important it is for them, but we didn't show today that it's really important for us too." On his emotions after the game he said: "Only one feeling - shame. When you play this kind of game you have to show another face. It was our worst face."

Crystal Palace have won four, drawn one and lost five of Pierre Sage's 10 games in charge. In Europa League action they have one win and one loss from their two matches.

Palace travel to Turkey on Thursday to take on Besiktas in the Europa League. They return to Premier League action on Sunday at home to Newcastle.