- Malang Sarr moved to the Blues in 2020 but played just 21 times in four years
- Argentine boss Pochettino infamously failed to recall who he was in an interview
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Ex-Chelsea man Malang Sarr has revealed how he reacted to being ignored by multiple managers at Stamford Bridge, and his thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino memorably forgetting who he was when put on the spot in an interview.
The French defender was highly-rated when he made the switch from Nice on a free transfer in 2020 after racking up 119 appearances for the club by the age of 21.
But his time at the Blues was largely a disappointment with Sarr playing just 21 times for the club in a four-year spell which saw him have to go on loan to Porto and Monaco in search of game time.
On his return from Monaco, he found a new boss at the helm in Pochettino but the same problems as before, neatly summed up when the Argentinian manager failed to recall who the centre-back was in a humiliating press conference.
Sarr, now aiming to reignite his career back in France at Lens, has shared his thoughts on the savage snub in an interview with L’Equipe.
He said: ‘I took it badly. It shouldn’t have happened.
‘He knew me. He even tried to sign me at Tottenham. I didn’t ask for an explanation.’
In the infamous press conference, Pochettino was asked about Sarr’s future at Stamford Bridge but the identity of the footballer slipped his mind and he replied: ‘Who’s that?’
The former Tottenham manager later compared the surprise question, which also mentioned young goalkeeper Jamie Cumming, to being ‘punched’ on the nose by a boxer.
The journalist repeated the names to the dumbfounded Argentine, before he added: ‘Oh my goodness. I don’t know what I can tell you. I don’t know because you surprised me!
‘It’s like you punch [me in the face] and I am like this [startled]. Because we were talking about Luton [who Chelsea had beaten 3-0]!’
The defender did not play a single minute of the season that ensued which saw Chelsea recover from a poor start to the campaign to finish sixth, largely thanks to some inspired displays from talisman Cole Palmer.
His contract was mutually terminated in the summer, with Pochettino also dismissed from his role in the hot seat, and he headed to Lens on a free transfer.
Sarr has been looking to move on from his forgettable spell in west London, insisting he has ‘no regrets’ about his time at the club, and has made five appearances so far this season for the French side, starting for the second time in a 3-1 defeat to Marseille on Saturday.
Pochettino meanwhile has moved on to become manager of the USA national team after moving in September on a two-year deal.
He has won three of his four matches as boss, slipping to a 2-0 defeat to Mexico last month in an international friendly.
Since Sarr and Pochettino left Stamford Bridge in the summer, Chelsea have experience an uptick in form under new manager Enzo Maresca, surging to third in the league – just one point behind last year’s champions Manchester City.
They have also won each of their three matches in the Europa Conference League as they look to add the trophy to their sizeable cabinet.
