Liam Rosenior delivers verdict on Mamadou Sarr's first Chelsea start and explains Cole Palmer absence

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·13 February 2026

Liam Rosenior delivers verdict on Mamadou Sarr's first Chelsea start and explains Cole Palmer absence

Sarr partnered Fofana at the MKM Stadium as Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup fifth round

Chelsea recalled Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg earlier this month as added depth at centre-back.

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The 20-year-old impressed under Rosenior in Ligue 1 in the first half of the season before winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with Senegal.

Sarr’s only previous appearance for Chelsea was an eight-minute cameo off the bench at last summer’s Club World Cup, but he played the full 90 minutes on Friday night as Chelsea beat Hull City 4-0 at the MKM Stadium, courtesy of goals from Pedro Neto (three) and Estevao to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

“Mamadou was everything that I expected,” Rosenior said. “I know Mamadou so well.

“I think the acclimatisation, adaptation process for him hopefully will be faster because he understands the way I want to play, and he already showed that today.”

Rosenior added: “But I don't want to single players out. I just felt the whole team, from [Alejandro] Garnacho's energy and running Liam Delap, Estevao, midfield players, the back unit, Rob Sanchez.

“I just felt it was a really, really strong team performance and that's what makes me so happy this evening.”

Clean sheet on full debut: Mamadou Sarr

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Cole Palmer was left out of the squad despite having scored four goals in his last two appearances for Chelsea, and Rosenior explained why.

“Managing — managing him,” he said. “Brilliant to see Reece [James] back on the pitch. Brilliant for him to get those 60 minutes.

“I was planning on giving Enzo [Fernandez] 45 minutes with Moi [Caicedo]. I'm trying to manage their minutes. In the end, I felt it was right for Moi to stay on for 60.

“I'm delighted they've all come through unscathed and now, for the first time in a long time, they've got a full week to prepare for Burnley.”