Reportedly unhappy with summer window signings, Crystal Palace manager Sage responds: The club did a good job

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage publicly responded to reports that he was unhappy with the club's summer window signings, saying bluntly, “That is not true,” and stressing that “the club did a good job.” French media had previously reported that Sage was dissatisfied with the 11 signings made by the team during the transfer window.

The source of the rumors and the actual situation

The report stated that Crystal Palace completed four signings on the summer window deadline day, bringing in a total of 11 new players. At the same time, the club sold two key players, Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz, and lost out to Sunderland in the race to sign Lyon winger Malik Fofana. Fofana was a former player Sage worked with during his time managing Lyon and was a player he wanted to sign.

However, at the pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's game against Fulham, Sage clearly denied those claims: “I know people in France said I was unhappy, I don't know why they said that. I want to tell you that it is not true. I said at the last press conference that ‘we need time.’ I prefer to spend time choosing the right players. I respect the whole process, I respect the club's work, and they did a good job.”

“We are not a bank”

Sage admitted that, as a coach, he naturally has players he wants, but circumstances mean it is impossible to get everything he wishes for. “I will always feel frustrated because I want this player or that player, but sometimes it is not possible, and I understand that. We are not a bank; we have to deal with the resources we have. My parents ran a restaurant, and of course I wanted as many customers as possible, but sometimes that is not the case. We face these situations every day, and football is the same.”

He also expressed his preference for completing signings earlier and admitted that the timing affected the team's performances in their first two league matches, which ended in defeats to Manchester City and Everton, but he also understood why the deals were completed later in the window.

Clear roles for the new signings

Sage explained the club's recruitment approach, saying every signing was carefully considered and that “we chose the types of players we needed.” Honore Ahanonou will provide cover at left centre-back, Quentin Timber offers a different option as “a player with more running ability who can play box-to-box,” while forward Dario Osorio joined because “we needed a player in that position with pace and the ability to shoot from distance.”

“He (Osorio) has scored many goals like this, and these two points will slightly change our style of play,” Sage added. Regarding Ben Chilwell, Sage said he “knows this club and this city, he will bring us experience, and he can play as a wing-back and centre-back.”

Missing out on a former player and squad concerns

Regarding the failure to reunite with Fofana, Sage showed his disappointment: “We tried very hard. Sometimes you cannot do more, but we did our best. The player chose another club to start his career, and I wish him all the best because he is a good person and a good player.”

Meanwhile, Sage still needs to deal with two distracted players, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, who both remained at the club after failing to leave before the transfer window closed. Sage had previously said that although Mateta had disagreements with the club, he was not someone who caused problems, while Sarr needed to “process” what had happened over the previous week, which “takes time.”