Pierre Sage relishing taking Crystal Palace to former club Lyon

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage expressed his excitement about facing former club Olympique Lyon in the UEFA Europa League match on Thursday. The 47-year-old, who joined Crystal Palace from Lens in the summer, took the reins as interim manager at Lyon in November 2023, leading them to Europa League qualification. Since taking over at Palace, Sage's team has had a mixed start to the season but secured their second league win of the campaign with a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

This victory has fueled Sage's anticipation for the Europa League clash against Lyon, a club he still holds a special place in his heart. Despite not being privy to every detail of the club, Sage emphasizes the importance of educating Palace players about Lyon's tactics and positions. The match will certainly evoke emotion, but the primary focus is on delivering a strong performance.

Lyon, currently fourth in Ligue 1, recently secured a 2-1 win over Anderlecht, and Paulo Fonseca, the Lyon coach, eagerly anticipates the tactical challenge posed by Sage and his team. Fonseca appreciates the tactical acumen displayed by Sage's teams and looks forward to preparing for this crucial encounter.