Chelsea coach Rosenior believes the difficult experience of being eliminated from the Champions League in such fashion will serve to strengthen his players, specifically a defender who had a rough night in Paris.
Mamadou Sarr received a big vote of confidence on Tuesday night when he made his Champions League debut in the second leg of Chelsea’s round-of-16 tie. Starting against the reigning European champions, the Senegal international faced the ultimate test under the spotlight at Stamford Bridge.
The game proved difficult for the young player, whose lapse in concentration in the opening minutes allowed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to open the scoring for PSG, giving the French side an 8-2 aggregate victory. That goal effectively ended Chelsea’s hopes of a European comeback, putting the defender in the spotlight for the wrong reasons at a crucial point in the season.
In comments ahead of the Blues’ return to the Premier League, Rosenior highlighted that such setbacks are an essential part of a young player’s development. He revealed that Sarr’s reaction in training has been perfect, demonstrating the mental strength required to play for a club like Chelsea.
“I’ve been working with Mamadou for almost two years, and I’m very excited about his career; that’s why he’s here,” Rosenior said, according to the club’s official website. “But sometimes you have to go through negative experiences to improve. He’ll come back. He trained very well on Thursday, and he’s a fundamental part of our plans for the future.”
Despite the pain of the defeat to PSG, Rosenior believes this experience will ultimately accelerate Sarr’s development. He insisted the young center back has the character to absorb this setback and use it as motivation to reach the level expected of a Chelsea starter.
“We all make mistakes — myself included — and you have to make sure you learn from them,” the coach added. “In the long run, the pain he has gone through will make him an even better player. That’s where Mamadou is in his career. If he learns from his mistakes, honestly, it’s exciting to think about what he can become as a player.”
Chelsea loaned Sarr to Strasbourg last summer, but the London club decided to bring him back during the winter transfer window. He has so far played five games in all competitions and is hoping to get playing time when Chelsea faces Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
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