A former Chelsea defender reveals the stinging truth behind Pochettino's viral "Who?" moment, exposing a deliberate snub fueled by past pursuits.
In 2023, Pochettino went viral for his response when asked about the whereabouts of Sarr and goalkeeper Jamie Cumming after Chelsea defeated Luton Town.
When Sarr's name was mentioned, Pochettino asked the journalist: "Who?"
The journalist continued: "Malang Sarr, and what has happened with Jamie Cumming, who played the match against Wrexham?"
Pochettino then responded, confused: "My God. Malang Sarr and then Jamie? I don't know what to tell you."
Reflecting on the incident on the Kampo podcast, Sarr said: "I felt like breaking everything when he said that, because I know what's going on behind my back ... He's doing it on purpose. I know he knows me. He may know me."
Sarr maintains the snub was deliberate, noting that Pochettino had previously tried to sign him for Tottenham. The defender revealed that upon arriving at Chelsea, the coach even told his assistant, "Look who's here, we tried to sign him at Tottenham, and now we're working together here." Sarr wondered how a coach who once pursued him could suddenly forget his identity.
Although Pochettino, now coach of the U.S. national team, later tried to rectify the situation, Sarr was unwilling to reconcile. "Pochettino wasn't prepared for the question; the next day or two days later, he realized his mistake and called me on the phone. I didn't answer him," Sarr admitted, adding that he discovered the press conference comments while on vacation through Instagram.
The exit process was equally brutal, as Sarr claimed the hierarchy tried to force him to do things he didn't want to do. He recalled telling the sporting director: "I'm 23 years old, I'm going to stay at a competitive club in Europe and I'm going to play... I refused, and that ended the discussion.
He got a bit upset. I'm upset too because he's trying to force me to go somewhere I don't want to go." Currently, Sarr is revitalizing his career at RC Lens, where his standout performances continue to prove that his quality on the pitch remains undeniable.
In the 2025-26 season, Sarr has maintained a leading role in the defense, totaling 24 matches played to date. In Ligue 1, the French center back has participated in 22 games, while in the Coupe de France, he has made 2 additional appearances.
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