Three trophies in a single calendar year. For a club of Crystal Palace's size, that is not a dream — it is now recent history. The FA Cup, the Community Shield, and the UEFA Conference League banner now hang over Selhurst Park, and the Eagles are in no mood to stop collecting.

The architect of those triumphs, Oliver Glasner, has departed after two and a half transformative years at the helm. In his place arrives Pierre Sage, the Frenchman who guided Lens to second in Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory in 2025-26 — deploying a 3-4-3 system that drew praise from Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique: "It's the first time since I've been here that a side has given us so much trouble."

A new chapter in Europe

Palace's priority this season is clear: the UEFA Europa League. English clubs have claimed the past two editions of the competition, and supporters believe there is no reason the Eagles cannot extend that run. Sage must balance a full European campaign with the domestic grind — something that cost Palace last season, when they slid to 15th in the Premier League despite sitting fifth as late as December.

A top-half finish has eluded Palace in all but two seasons since their 2013 promotion. Achieving it alongside a deep European run will require significantly greater squad depth than Sage currently has at his disposal. Recruitment, as ever, will be decisive.

Goals, expected and otherwise

Palace's greatest weakness in 2025-26 was converting pressure into points. Only Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers scored fewer than Palace's 41 Premier League goals, yet the Eagles ranked ninth for shots inside the box and eighth for expected goals — ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland, and Aston Villa. No side in the division underperformed their xG more severely.

Ismaila Sarr was the glaring exception. His 21 goals across all competitions made him the first Palace player to reach 20 at the top level since Andy Johnson in 2004-05. At 28, Sarr is at the peak of his powers — intelligent, versatile, and clinical in dangerous areas.

Questions about new arrivals

The verdict on January signings Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen — acquired for a combined £78 million — remains open. A club operating on Palace's budget cannot afford significant misses in the transfer market. Sage will need to unlock their potential quickly if the Eagles are to compete on two fronts.

Palace have an outstanding record of developing talent — Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, and Adam Wharton all progressed from Championship prospects to established internationals under the club's stewardship. Teenage central defender Jaydee Canvot is another name to watch after an impressive debut campaign.

Home comforts needed

Sage must also address a troubling home record. Palace claimed just four wins at Selhurst Park in 2025-26, picking up fewer points at home than on the road. Restoring their ground to the hostile fortress it once was is among his most pressing tasks.

Off the pitch, the club will be vigilant about UEFA correspondence after being eliminated from last season's Europa League for missing a key communication regarding multi-club ownership regulations — a costly administrative error they are determined not to repeat.

FourFourTwo's verdict tips Crystal Palace to finish 13th in the Premier League. Whether Pierre Sage can replicate Lens' exceptional 2025-26 campaign in a far more demanding division remains the defining question of the Eagles' season.