Is it time to wake up yet? Winning three cups in 12 months was beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic Crystal Palace fan, but the Eagles have developed a taste for trophies and their appetite isn't satiated yet – despite Oliver Glasner's exit.
The mastermind behind those FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League triumphs has left the club after a glorious two and a half years.
His replacement, Pierre Sage, has a lot to live up to. Collecting yet more silverware won't be easy, but fans want the club to throw everything at the Europa League. English sides have won the past two editions of Europe's secondary competition. Why not Crystal Palace this time?
Can Crystal Palace live up to their recent major trophy-winning standards? 2026-27 season preview
Ideally, that wouldn't come at the expense of a top-half Premier League finish, which Palace have achieved just twice since their 2013 promotion.
If so, Sage will need more depth and rotation options across the pitch. They sat fifth in December before their workload caught up with them.
Quantity has a quality of its own. Recruitment is the key. Palace have unearthed numerous gems in recent years, turning Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton from Championship prospects into established internationals.
But the jury is out on Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen, signed for a combined £78m in January. A club with Palace's budget can't afford to be wasteful.
The Coach
Palace swiftly turned to Pierre Sage after Andoni Iraola chose Liverpool (strange).
In 2025-26, he led Lens to second in Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory with a Glasner-like 3-4-3. PSG's Luis Enrique said, “It's the first time since I've been here that a side has given us so much trouble.”
Key Player (and Top Scorer)
Ismaila Sarr's 21 goals in all competitions made him the first Palace player to hit 20 at the highest level since Andy Johnson in 2004-05.
At age 28, Sarr is at the peak of his powers: intelligent, versatile and deadly, with a knack for finding space in dangerous positions.
Last Season's Results
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Winners (1-0 vs Rayo Vallecano)
PREMIER LEAGUE: 15th
FA Cup: Third Round (2-1 loss vs Macclesfield)
League Cup: Quarter-finals (1-1, 8-7 Penalties loss vs Arsenal)
Lessons From Last Year
Take your chances. Only Burnley and Wolves scored fewer than Palace's 41 goals in 2025-26. Yet the Eagles ranked ninth for shots inside the box and eighth for xG, above top-eight finishers Brighton, Sunderland and Aston Villa.
Palace underperformed their expected goals more than any other team. An improved record at Selhurst Park would be welcome, too.
With only four wins there, Palace picked up fewer points at home than they did on the road. Sage must make Selhurst Park a fortress again.
Most Likely To...
Double-check their emails. After being kicked out of last season's Europa League for missing a vital UEFA memo about multi-club ownership, Palace will have their eyes peeled on their inbox.
Least Likely To...
Meet a deadline. The Eagles announced plans for an enlarged Main Stand in 2017 and targeted completion within three years, but spades have only just entered the ground. Palace are in danger of making HS2 look like a rush job.
View From The Stands
Words by: JACK PIERCE @FYPFanzine
Last season was all about the Conference League. Our league form took a back seat as focus turned to winning another trophy. It has become a habit.
The big talking point is how we'll move on from the most successful manager in our history. Glasner changed the club culture completely. But Sage brought success to Lens last season, too.
I won't be happy unless I see Palace at San Siro. Is it more surprising Crystal Palace are in the Europa League, or that Milan are?
Our key player will be Jorgen Strand Larsen, if Sage can get a tune out of him. Our record signing has shown glimpses since he arrived in January.
Look out for our French central defender Jaydee Canvot. The teenager had a superb first campaign and will go to the highest stage in years to come.
The opposition player who grinds my gears is Jordan Henderson, for the incessant whining and for nicking Adam Wharton's seat on the flight to the World Cup. It's a scandal.
The opposition player I'd love here is Hayden Hackney. The best player in the Championship last season could and should have followed the road trodden by Eze, Olise and Wharton.
The best thing about matchdays at our ground is seeing how many away fans love the Wilfried Zaha mural.
We'll finish away from danger, but I'm concerned that we'll struggle to find the right balance between our Premier League and European form again.
Fixtures
AUGUST
22 Everton (A)
29 Man City (H)
SEPTEMBER
5 Fulham (A)
12 Ipswich (H)
19 Leeds (A)
OCTOBER
10 Nott'm Forest (H)
17 Brighton (A)
24 Newcastle (H)
31 Tottenham (A)
NOVEMBER
7 Liverpool (H)
21 Coventry (A)
28 Hull City (H)
DECEMBER
2 Chelsea (A)
5 Aston Villa (A)
12 Man United (H)
19 Sunderland (A)
26 Arsenal (H)
30 Bournemouth (H)
JANUARY
2 Brentford (A)
6 Chelsea (H)
16 Liverpool (A)
23 Tottenham (H)
30 Hull City (A)
FEBRUARY
6 Coventry (H)
10 Brentford (H)
20 Bournemouth (A)
27 Sunderland (H)
MARCH
3 Arsenal (A)
13 Fulham (H)
20 Ipswich (A)
APRIL
10 Everton (H)
17 Man City (A)
24 Man United (A)
MAY
1 Aston Villa (H)
8 Nott'm Forest (A)
15 Brighton (H)
23 Newcastle (A)
30 Leeds (H)
Title Odds
Crystal Palace to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1
FFT Verdict
FourFourTwo verdict: Crystal Palace to finish 13th.
It's no guarantee that Sage can repeat Lens' tremendous 2025-26 season in England. Palace do have a fine squad and continue to sign well, however, with the possible exception of January 2026.
This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.
