Appearing on Telefoot two days after his biggest career success to date, Pierre Sage may have raised some eyebrows at Anfield.
One of the highest-rated coaches in Europe, Sage guided RC Lens to their first Coupe de France title.
The success comes after he very nearly dethroned PSG as Ligue 1 champions, only for a title charge to falter in the final weeks.
Sage was on the leading French sports show to discuss the season, and took part in the traditional ‘Yes/No’ segment.
He was asked he will be Lens coach next season and replied ‘Yes’ and then if he would like to work abroad one day he again said ‘Yes’.
Later, he was asked where he’d like to coach, and admitted the Premier League is the pinnacle.
Asked if one club ‘makes him dream’ he responded: “Liverpool, of course.”
The comments some with current Liverpool manager Arne Slot under serious pressure heading into the summer.
The Dutchman failed to back up his debut title win and will end the current season trophyless despite a massive £450million spent on players.
The club earlier briefed out they would be sticking with Slot, but that position now appears to be weakening.
As for Sage, despite being 47, he’s a very new coach, only starting with boyhood club Lyon in 2023 and getting to the cup final.
He’s regularly talked up joining OL, and the panel asked him about switching Marseille as a calming voice amid the chaos, to which got another ‘No’.
Despite earning plaudits for being so calm and humble, Sage was shown a dressing room clip of him yelling at his troops during half-time of a scoreless Ligue 1 clash they ended up winning.
“It happened a few times during the season despite everything,” he said.
“And honestly, when I watch those images again, I don’t recognise myself at all.
“No, seriously, sometimes it’s important to let that intensity out. With a struggling group, it becomes necessary.
“Honestly, it’s not controlled. I don’t think I’m playing a role at that moment.
“And above all, as I often explain, it’s an interaction with the dressing room. You can feel the faces lifting, the players beginning to show a new energy taking hold.
“So I think that allows us to push fully. And with the staff — whom you can clearly see in this image — we really try to seize every opportunity that the dressing room gives us.”
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