Palace latest: Sage admits Lyon return brings back 'emotion'

Key points

• Pierre Sage says Thursday's Europa League match against Lyon will be emotional for him.
• Sage had an interim spell at Lyon in November 2023 and later joined Crystal Palace.
• Crystal Palace beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on Sunday before turning to Europe.

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has said there will be some "emotion" when his side face his former club Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday. Sage, 47, had a spell as interim boss at Lyon in November 2023, guiding the club to Europa League qualification, before moving to Lens and then joining Crystal Palace in the summer.

Palace secured their second Premier League win of the season after the international break, beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 on Sunday. The team's focus now shifts to the European fixture.

Sage on facing former club

Sage said he still feels connected to Lyon, noting he still owns a house there. He described the upcoming match as a special moment, adding that his last visit to the club was on May 17.

He also said he cannot claim to know everything about Lyon, and that Palace's players do not know everything about the French side. He stressed the need to educate them on how to play against certain positions.

I still feel part of Lyon somehow. I still have a house here, so it's a special moment

— Pierre Sage

Focus on performance

Despite the emotional context, Sage emphasised that the important thing is that it is a football game and that his team needs a good performance.