Crystal Palace have no immediate plans to replace manager Pierre Sage, but his position is under increasing pressure after Sunday’s 5-0 defeat by Brighton.
Palace are 14th in the Premier League with seven points from seven matches. Sage was unable to guarantee that he retained the club’s full backing after the heavy loss to their rivals.
Asked whether he would be given time to improve the team’s fortunes, Sage said: “I don’t know.”
He apologised to Palace supporters and acknowledged the significance of the occasion, saying: “I just want to apologise to the fans because it’s not normal to show this face for this club against this other club, and we are not at the level we expected.”
Sage added: “I am really sorry for that because I know how important it is for them.”
He also admitted Palace had failed to appreciate the importance of the match, saying: “We didn’t show that today it was really important for us too. We didn’t understand in which context this game was played.”
Crystal Palace’s defensive problems
The manager has faced criticism for his attacking approach, while Palace have conceded 17 goals in seven league matches — the worst defensive record in the Premier League.
The defensive unit was weakened during the summer by the departures of Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix, who had both played important roles in the club’s success under former manager Oliver Glasner.
Palace brought in Axel Disasi and 18-year-old Honest Ahanor on loan to strengthen central defence after Lacroix and Marc Guehi left. Guehi joined Manchester City in January.
Chairman Steve Parish previously said the club was on “high alert” during the transition from the Glasner era to Sage’s tenure, a period that has also involved several new signings and Palace’s first Europa League campaign.
Sage’s immediate schedule includes a Europa League trip to Besiktas on October 22, followed by Newcastle at home on October 25, Fulham away in the Carabao Cup on October 28, Tottenham away on October 31 and Hoffenheim at home in the Europa League on November 5.
