Crystal Palace yesterday confirmed the appointment of Pierre Sage as the club’s new head coach, on a three-year contract, subject to work visas being confirmed.
Knows his onions: Pierre Sage, in his first interview since becoming Crystal Palace manager
The 47-year-old Frenchman replaces Oliver Glasner, the triple trophy-winning Eagles boss who left Selhurst Park at the end of his contract last month.
Sage was named France’s manager of the season recently, after taking Lens to second place in Ligue 1 and winning the French cup for the first time in the club’s history.
In a video on the Palace club website, Sage said he wants to continue with the spirit built up among the players under Glasner.
“Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition.
“We want to see them with a smile, to be proud of the team, and to be proud of the club.
“You can know that we will give our best for you – and we are together.
“From my first steps in the stadium, I understand the atmosphere. We understand that good things happen here, historical things happen.
“That’s why we have to continue in this way: because it’s special to play here, and we want to be special.”
In the Palace TV interview, Sage said: ““It’s amazing – for me, it’s a dream to be in England, especially in the Premier League,” he said. “This is a really good surprise, and a big challenge.
“For me, first of all, football came from this country and the Premier League is the best league in the world. To be here is really special, because you have to put your level at its highest position.
“We want to give our best every day for the team, for the club, for people and especially for the fans because when you love a club in England, it’s for all of your life.
“It’s your family sometimes, and you need to keep that. We want to give them what they want.”
Talking about the club’s “winning habits”, Sage said, “For me, the squad has to be similar to the people who will come to the stadium to see us play – we have to be in line with what they want to see.
“To be proud to be from south London, we have to give a good solution to the team to play as the league wants, as the league needs, but also how the fans want to see their team.
“We will prepare in a good way to give them what they are looking for.”
Read more: FT reports: Palace’s US billionaire owners look to sell shares
Read more: Glasner’s farewell letter to Palace fans: ‘Together, we believed’
Read more: Wharton, ‘the Wilpshire Pirlo’, makes World Cup case to Tuchel
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