# Sage: Crystal Palace Lost Belief After Falling 3-1 Behind to Manchester City

> By  · Published 2026-08-29 · Updated 2026-08-29
> https://lesportifplus.com/en/2026/08/29/sage-crystal-palace-lost-belief-after-falling-3-1-behind-to-manchester-city/

## Summary
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage said his team lost hope once Manchester City took a 3-1 lead, with City eventually winning the match 4-1. Sage highlighted the psychological blow of conceding a third goal as the key moment that ended Palace's chances of a comeback.

## Key points
- Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 4-1
- Pierre Sage said Palace lost belief once City led 3-1
- Sage identified the third goal as the turning point in the match

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage said his players lost belief in the contest once Manchester City established a 3-1 lead, as City went on to secure a 4-1 victory. Sage’s post-match comments pointed to the third goal as the decisive turning point that drained his team’s hope of a comeback.

## What did Pierre Sage say after the defeat?

Sage told reporters that Palace’s mentality shifted the moment City extended their advantage to two goals, arguing that his players struggled to sustain the belief needed to chase the game from that point onward. He suggested the psychological impact of conceding a third goal was as damaging as the scoreline itself, effectively ending Palace’s prospects of salvaging a result.

> Once it went 3-1, we lost hope in the game, the Palace boss said.

## Why did the 3-1 goal prove so costly?

Falling two goals behind against a side of Manchester City’s quality left Crystal Palace with little room to mount a response, and Sage’s remarks indicate his squad’s energy and composure dipped noticeably after that moment. Rather than rallying, Palace appeared to accept the outcome, allowing City to add a fourth goal before the final whistle and complete a comprehensive 4-1 win.

## What does this mean for Crystal Palace going forward?

The manner of the defeat raises questions about Palace’s resilience when matches swing against them, particularly against elite opposition. Sage’s honest assessment suggests the club will need to address how the team responds mentally to setbacks in upcoming fixtures if they are to avoid similar collapses.

## Source

- [BBC Sport Football](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/c770408jzeno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — BBC Sport Football

## Sources
- [BBC Sport Football](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/c770408jzeno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)