He even tried to sign me – Malang Sarr fires back at former Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino

Malang Sarr, now 25, has finally opened up about his turbulent stint at Chelsea, a chapter he candidly describes as “lost time.”

After joining the Blues on a free transfer from OGC Nice in 2020, the French defender never truly found his footing, spending loan spells at Porto and Monaco.

Upon returning to Stamford Bridge in 2023, Sarr found himself overshadowed by a flood of new signings and a new manager, Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine’s icy response to questions about Sarr’s future—“Who is that?”—added insult to injury.

Speaking to L’Équipe, Sarr revealed his frustration: “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.”

Despite not playing a single minute under Pochettino, Sarr holds no grudges. After mutually terminating his Chelsea contract, he joined RC Lens, where he has already made six appearances. While reflecting on his Chelsea journey, he insists, “No regrets.”

Lens fans will be hoping the resilient Sarr finally realizes his potential in Ligue 1.