SELHURST PARK – For new Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, defeat to Manchester City must have felt a bit like waiting for a dental extraction. A little discomfort for now. The worst may be yet to come.
Many will write off Palace if Daniel Munoz, Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta – scorers of 60 per cent of last season’s league goals – are sold before Tuesday’s deadline. The doom still feels a little overblown.
The new-season buzz was killed by a buzz-cut. A newly-trimmed Erling Haaland and the magical feet of Rayan Cherki showed why Sage, the latter’s old Lyon coach, considers him “God”. The cameo from £86m debutant Ayyoub Bouaddi suggested City have got their belated business right. Perhaps there is method in Palace’s madness too.
Surging down the right, Anan Khalaili looked a ready-made Munoz replacement. He is almost a decade younger than the Colombian. Mateta, too, will be 30 next year.
Palace are adamant Wharton is not for sale (Photo: PA)
