Mauricio Pochettino DOESN'T KNOW Malang Sarr or Jamie Cumming

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino DOESN’T KNOW Malang Sarr or Jamie Cumming as he is quizzed on forgotten stars… likening surprise question to being ‘punched’ on the nose by a boxer

  • Mauricio Pochettino was caught off-guard when asked about two of his players
  • Jamie Cumming played during pre-season, as Malang Sarr returned from loan 
  • WATCH: It’s All Coming Up – Mail Sport’s preview show for the weekend’s football

Mauricio Pochettino was left scratching his head during his press conference this week as he admitted he was unsure who Malang Sarr or Jamie Cumming are. 

The Chelsea boss has become used to fielding questions about exiled striker Romelu Lukaku all summer, with the Belgian eager to leave, and Chelsea eager to move him on.

But there has not been questions about forgotten stars Sarr, who was out on loan at AS Monaco last season, and young goalkeeper Jamie Cumming, so much so that Pochettino was almost speechless when one reporter did go in search of answers. 

After a 3-0 win over Luton Town on Friday, Pochettino was asked why neither Sarr nor Cumming have made the matchday squad. 

‘Who?’ Pochettino replied.

Mauricio Pochettino was left without answers when he was quizzed on two forgotten players

Pochettino was unsure what to say about Malang Sarr (right), who has returned from loan

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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!’

The Chelsea boss may well have salvaged the situation but fans were quick to spot his surprise when asked about two players not set to be involved for the Blues moving forward.

Pochettino has been focused on trimming his squad this summer, even with spending near £350million this summer.

Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Kai Havertz have been among the big-name departures, but still there are plenty Chelsea are still keen to move on.

Chelsea’s own website states that Pochettino has a 32-man first team squad – highlighting how bloated the Blues group is. 

It may be that Pochettino was simply caught off guard with the question but he definitely looked lost in attempting to give verdicts on Sarr and Cumming. 

Sarr, 24, is way down the pecking order at Chelsea, having spent much of his time since signing out on loan.

Young goalkeeper Jamie Cumming was another name that caught Pochettino by surprise

The young defender started just six Premier League games in his first season at Stamford Bridge, having arrived from Nice in 2020. 

As for Cumming, the 23-year-old goalkeeper has been at the club since he was an Under-8 in their development centre programme, but has struggled to command a regular spot in the first team.

He started in Pochettino’s first game in charge, a 5-0 pre-season win over Wrexham, but following the signing of Robert Sanchez from Brighton, he appears an afterthought in the goalkeeping department. 

Against Luton on Friday, 19-year-old Eddie Beach and 20-year-old Lucas Bergstrom were the goalkeepers Pochettino picked to stick on the bench.

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