Crystal Palace have never been a club to rest on their laurels, and their latest move proves exactly that. Having just lifted the UEFA Conference Leag...
Crystal Palace have never been a club to rest on their laurels, and their latest move proves exactly that. Having just lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy, a feat that would have seemed far fetched just a few seasons ago, the Eagles are now preparing a formal offer for RC Lens manager Pierre Sage. This comes after the anticipated departure of Oliver Glasner, who has done his bit and now looks set to move on.Sage has become one of the most talked about coaches in European football after a stunning campaign in Ligue 1. His Lens side have been a revelation, blending a disciplined low block with devastating transitional play that has left bigger budgets chasing shadows. It is that tactical flexibility which has caught the eye of the Palace hierarchy, who are determined not to let their recent success fade into a footnote.Make no mistake, this is a statement of intent. The South London outfit are not content with simply winning a cup. They want to build a dynasty. Sage, who had been linked with the Liverpool job before Arne Slot took the reins, represents a forward thinking appointment. He demands clinical finishing from his forwards and expects his defenders to read the game with an almost psychic awareness.Some will question whether a manager with limited Premier League experience can handle the grind of a mid table side now carrying European expectations. But that is precisely the gamble that separates the brave from the boring. Palace have seen what Sage can do with a squad that does not boast the deepest pockets. Imagine what he could do with the resources available in the most competitive league in the world.The timing is everything. As Glasner walks out the door with a winners medal in his pocket, Sage walks in with a reputation that has been forged in the fires of French football. There will be no bedding in period. The fans will demand entertainment and results from the first whistle. But if Sage can replicate even half of what he achieved at Lens, Selhurst Park could be in for a truly thrilling ride. The Premier League has been warned.
