Steve Paris: Pierre Sage Has Done 'Really Well' at Crystal Palace

· GiveMeSport

Steve Parish discusses Pierre Sage's start at Crystal Palace and supports him amid reports of pressure.

Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish has been discussing the start to life at Selhurst Park that Pierre Sage has had, with some reports suggesting that he's under pressure.

Sage was brought to the club in the summer after Oliver Glasner confirmed that he would be leaving Palace following the expiration of his contract.

The Eagles opted to bring in a manager who plays a similar system to Glasner, particularly in terms of the formation, with Parish likely hoping that the transition would be seamless. It's never going to be as seamless as you would expect, and Palace currently sit in 15th position in the Premier League during the first international break.

Reports have claimed that Sage is under pressure at Palace due to their defensive frailties, but Parish has come out in support of the manager.

After a busy summer transfer window and plenty of upheaval, Parish believes that this season has been 'ok' so far , but they are on high alert.

> “After quite a lot of upheaval, it feels ok. We’re all still on high alert, but it feels quite good. We’ve had a good performance against Leeds, some good wins in the cups and it was great to get a first Europa League win. The score probably didn’t really reflect the game (in the 4-0 Europa League victory over Lech Poznan). They did very well.

> “It’s a shame to get a break as were just starting to get into our stride, but it feels like the teams that had a lot of players at the World Cup have had quite a difficult start. We signed a lot of new players who are getting to know each other and getting the atmosphere in the right place, which it always is and it will be. It feels better, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”

Speaking on Sage directly, Parish believes that he's done 'really well', perhaps rubbishing reports that he's already under pressure at Selhurst Park.

> “After seven games, having three wins, three losses and one draw is not a bad start by any means. When you consider everything that he’s had to cope with, he’s done really well."

It's never easy for players or managers to come to a new league, a new way of living, and even having to learn a new language when they join a club.

Sage is adapting on the job, and Parish understands that it's going to take time for him to understand the Premier League.

> “It takes time to work out the league, We’re never relaxed — it’s not a question of being relaxed or complacent — and everybody’s getting used to everybody’s way of doing things. I can’t control the things that people gossip about or they write. We are as we always are: entirely focused on working together to drive the club forward and to have a good season. Everybody’s on the same page and forward we go."

Parish believes Palace are working towards a style where they are no longer relying on individual quality.

> “There’s always that balance between being defensively solid and trying to score, and we’ve been heading towards much more of a co-ordinated way of playing, rather than relying on one or two very highly-talented attacking individuals in the final third."

The interview with Parish could be a huge vote of confidence for Sage, especially during an international break when it's sometimes quite popular to change the manager.

It would certainly be an early and rash decision if Palace were to make a change, but Parish appears content with the job done by Sage so far.

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