\n The newest player to join Liam Rosenior\u2019s squad is one he knows well, with Mamadou Sarr returning to Chelsea from his loan at Strasbourg. And the Blues head coach is excited to work with the defender once again.
\n <\/p>\n
Sarr, who helped Senegal win the African Cup of Nations last month, was a key member of Rosenior\u2019s Strasbourg defence during the first half of the season and captained the Ligue 1 side on several occasions during his time in France. <\/p>\n
However, following Rosenior\u2019s appointment as Chelsea head coach last month and Sarr\u2019s return to west London on the final day of the winter transfer window, the two are now working together again. <\/p>\n
\u2018Everyone knows what I think about Mamadou, I think he\u2019s got the potential to be a world-class centre-back,\u2019 replied Rosenior when asked for his opinion on the 20-year-old’s return to the Blues.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m delighted he\u2019s here and thank the sporting directors and ownership for supporting what I thought was the right decision for us and for him in his career.<\/p>\n
\u2018I see a growth in Mamadou, even his performance in the AFCON final. I see a growth in his physicality, I see a growth in his tactical understanding. Also, it was an area of the pitch I felt we could strengthen.<\/p>\n
\u2018He will get his opportunity, but he knows he needs to fight for it because we have got many outstanding centre-backs in our group.\u2019<\/p>\n
Rosenior also feels Sarr adds to the versatility which already exists in our back line, a quality he values highly in his players.<\/p>\n
\u2018If you look at the flexibility of our defenders, Trevoh [Chalobah] can play all three positions, Wes [Fofana] can play on the right or centre, Mamadou can play all three, Josh [Acheampong] can play all three.<\/p>\n
\u2018I like versatility and flexibility, in our build-up especially. I don\u2019t say someone is “just a central centre-back or right or left centre-back”, Mamadou can play every position and can do it at a very high level.\u2019<\/p>\n
It is not just in defence that our head coach looks for players to show the ability and willingness to operate in several different roles. <\/p>\n
He points to Liam Delap<\/a> taking up a wide right position in Tuesday\u2019s Carabao Cup semi-final trip to Arsenal with a specific purpose in mind.<\/p>\n \u2018We really wanted to match Arsenal\u2019s physicality at home,\u2019 said Rosenior. ‘If you look at [Piero] Hincapie, the two centre-backs, [Jurrien] Timber or whoever plays, they\u2019re beasts and they\u2019re strong. So, we wanted to be able to mix it up with them physically.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve worked with Liam before and he\u2019s played for me on the right and been outstanding there. His position is a No.9, but I like to use players in different positions.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve used Garna (Alejandro Garnacho<\/a>) as a second pocket, I\u2019ve used Pedro (Neto) as a winger in the pocket, Cole (Palmer) as a wide player in the pocket. I like to have players who can play different roles.<\/p>\n \u2018Also, we didn\u2019t have many players available. Everyone says it was a decision, but of our wingers Jamie Gittens<\/a> was out, Pedro Neto<\/a> wasn\u2019t available, Garna mainly operates off the left, and Estevao had been in Brazil for the correct reason.<\/p>\n \u2018There are so many things that go into it and I thought Liam acquitted himself really well in that game.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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