"Who?" - Mauricio Pochettino left clueless after journalist asks for update on two Chelsea players
Mauricio Pochettino was left clueless after a journalist asked him to provide an update on two Chelsea players.
Pochettino's team cruised to a 3-0 home win against Luton Town in the Premier League on Friday (August 25). After the game, one of the journalists asked the Argentine tactician (@HayterTV on X):
"I just want to ask about two players who have disappeared. Malang Sarr, who was on loan last season..."
Before the question was completed, a bemused Pochettino replied:
"Who"
The reporter continued:
"Malang Sarr, and what has happened to Jamie Cumming, who played the first game against Wrexham?"
Poch took his time to respond and looked around in confusion before replying:
"I don't know what I can tell you. I don't know because you surprised me; it's like you punch, and I am like this (pretends to be groggy) because we were talking about Luton."
Sarr joined Chelsea on a free transfer from OGC Nice in the summer of 2020. He was loaned to Porto for the 2020-21 campaign before starting just six Premier League games in the following season.
The Frenchman joined AS Monaco on a season-long deal last summer, where he made 17 appearances across competitions. Since then, he hasn't made the matchday squad for the west London giants in the league.
Cumming, meanwhile, is a 23-year-old academy goalkeeper who plies his trade with the Blues' reserve team. He started in their 5-0 pre-season Florida Cup win against Wrexham on July 20.
Cumming spent the last one and a half year at MK Dons on a loan spell but is yet to make a senior appearance for Chelsea despite joining their academy 15 years ago.
Mauricio Pochettino hopes Chelsea midfielder can be back with team soon
Carney Chukwuemeka suffered a knee injury late in the first half of his team's 3-1 league win against West Ham United on August 20.
The Englishman scored the only goal for his team, doing so via a brilliant individual effort just before the half-time mark. However, he did not emerge for the second half, and the club later confirmed that he had a problem with his left knee.
Chukwuemeka has since undergone surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation. Before the game against Luton, Pochettino provided an update on the 19-year-old (h/t Football.London):
"I think it is not an issue that will take months, maybe weeks. I hope he (sic.) can be as soon as possible with the team again."
'Poch' could use this time to integrate Romeo Lavia into his team. The 19-year-old Belgian has yet to make Chelsea's matchday squad since his £58 million (with add-ons) move from Southampton.