EXCLUSIVE! A Lens legend: Pierre Sage? Following in legend Glasner's footsteps is no mean feat but Crystal Palace can look forward to him

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

A Lens legend has urged Crystal Palace supporters to be patient with Pierre Sage — insisting the Frenchman will eventually deliver the goods at Selhurst Park.

That is because the Eagles’ new French manager has been handed the baton by the club’s greatest-ever manager, Oliver Glasner.

Succeeding the Austrian, who lifted the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League, means big shoes to fill.

Not least for someone whose only previous coaching experience was confined to France, in the Lyon and Lens dugouts.

Yet Corentin Jean, a former teammate of Kylian Mbappe at Monaco and Lionel Messi at Inter Miami who spent two years with the Sang et Or between 2020 and 2022, doesn’t need any persuading that Coupe de France-winning Sage will deliver at Selhurst Park.

Despite Palace kicking things off with a 2-0 defeat at Everton, he is convinced that the fruits of Sage’s hard labour will eventually pay off at an incredible rate.

In an exclusive interview with Capital Football London, Jean said: “Of course, following a legend is never easy.

“But I think he wants to have a good season because he’s a very good coach.

“He’s calm and composed and I don’t think he’ll overthink things.

“He will do what he did at Lens and try to get the maximum out of the team because the Premier League is a very demanding level.

“Tactically, when it comes to the way he plays, he knows football.

“He likes attacking football and likes pressing. That was one of Lens’ strengths: high pressing, having a go at the opposition, getting players forward and playing a really positive, forward-thinking style.

“It will take time for things to fall into place and for the players to buy into the project and he will also need to adapt to English culture and the Premier League.

“I hope that will also be the case at Crystal Palace for the club and its supporters.”

Yet Jean admitted to being flabbergasted that he turned his back on the Champions League after working so hard to achieve it in the first place in northern France.

So, was the decision down to finances?

Jean, 31, said: “It surprised me because I thought he would want to play in the Champions League with Lens.

“But that’s football. People can talk about money but I think his dream was to coach in the Premier League.

“When he got the opportunity he didn’t turn it down.

“So I am happy for him, he seems like a great person and I hope he succeeds.”

His human touch will no doubt make him popular and respected.

Jean said: “I know some players who were with him at Lens very well, and they told me nothing but good things about Pierre Sage. He’s a top person on a human level.

“It’s not easy, but everyone who has worked with him at Lyon or Lens speaks very highly of him

“He has a good relationship with the players and, on a human level, I think he’s a very good person, so there’s no reason why things shouldn’t go well!"