Crystal Palace is preparing to challenge Tottenham in a London derby which, in addition to representing a crucial occasion for both teams, will pit Pierre Sage against his former mentor, Roberto DeZerbi. Sage, who guided the London club to a Carabao Cup quarter-final qualification after four games without a win, said he visited Italy early in his career to closely observe the Italian coach's work, seeing him as a role model.
During the interview, Sage explained how he spent time in Rome and Sassuolo to understand DeZerbi's game system. “For a long time he was a role model,” he said, adding that his goal was to understand how he played. “I wanted to understand how he played.” These visits have influenced Sage's philosophy, which now seeks to "steal good ideas" from opponents and build a context in which his team can be effective. “All these guys are two-hour opponents, but they all have good ideas and I just have to steal them,” he explained with a smile.
Sage's role was put to the test by the recent poor result against Brighton, where Palace were defeated 5‑0, increasing pressure on his job. The win against Fulham in the cup has relieved some of this pressure, but Sage's aim remains to go beyond just the result. “We're not here just to try to win, but to win our way,” he said, highlighting the importance of managing the gap between one's identity and the club's expectations.
The comparison with DeZerbi takes on a particular meaning for Sage, who now must transform the ideas studied during his training into a recognizable and personal proposal. The match against Tottenham represents an opportunity to measure the progress made and to demonstrate that Crystal Palace can compete at higher levels. With the season still ongoing, the outcome of this derby will be crucial in defining the future direction of the London club and cementing Sage's vision as manager.