Pierre Sage has now finalised his coaching staff at Crystal Palace.
The Frenchman has brought Jamal Alioui with him from RC Lens to Selhurst Park as his Assistant Manager, while Damien Della Santa arrives at Crystal Palace as Player Development and Set Piece Coach after working under Sage at Lyon.
Sandy Guichard has also arrived in SE25 as Fitness Coach – but is the only one of the new coaching staff members not to have previously worked under Sage.
That isn’t a major cause of concern, but Guichard’s time at Monaco last season certainly does provide reason for Crystal Palace fans to worry.
Initial thoughts on Pierre Sage? 🤔
He can boast a 67.5% win ratio from 40 games at RC Lens 😍
Monaco suffered injury nightmare with Sandy Guichard as Fitness Coach
In fairness, injuries can happen in football for a range of reasons, and it is rarely down to just one man – although the situation at Monaco last season does not make good reading for Crystal Palace supporters.
Thiago Scuro – CEO of Monaco – let his anger out back in January as Monaco began to collapse, losing seven of their last eight games in Ligue 1 at the time as several players ended up in the treatment room.
Paul Pogba, Ansu Fati, Eric Dier, Lukas Hradecky, Stanis Idumbo, Christian Mawissa, Mohammed Salisu and Takumi Minamino all suffered injury problems throughout the campaign, and those in the boardroom were growing tired.
The Guardian quoted Scuro as saying in January: “It isn’t normal that there are so many injuries. It changes everything in a season. I have to understand it and find a solution. I need responses and, if I don’t get them, we’ll have to think about replacing some people. That is how it will work.”
That is exactly how it worked. Scuro dismissed Guichard just days later in February as Monaco decided to go down another avenue in the medical department.
As aforesaid, injuries are not always solely down to the actions of just one person, but that situation at Monaco does not reflect well on Guichard whatsoever.
If Crystal Palace end up suffering a similar injury crisis next season, fans will surely end up pointing the finger at Guichard – rightly or wrongly.
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