Alan Shearer slams 'too nice' Chelsea defender Malang Sarr after he endured night to forget in rare chance to impress during tight FA Cup win over Luton
- Alan Shearer and Micah Richards slammed Malang Sarr's display against Luton
- Chelsea had to come from behind twice to beat the Hatters in their FA Cup win
- And Sarr has come under criticism for being 'too nice' in his defending
- The Frenchman was at fault for both Luton's goal on a rare start for the BluesĀ
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have criticised Malang Sarr's defensive display against Luton, which saw Chelsea have to come from behind twice to beat the Championship outfit in the FA Cup.
The reigning world and European champions were looking to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition, but they got off to the worst possible start when Reece Burke put Luton ahead inside two minutes.
Sarr was deemed to have been at fault for the goal which saw Burke beat him in the air from a corner before Saul Niguez equalised on the 27th minute.Ā But it was Sarr again who allowed Luton to retake the lead having mistimed his offside trap, allowing Harry Cornick to race through and score.
Malang Sarr has been criticised for his defensive performance against Luton in the FA Cup
Alan Shearer (left) and Micah Richards (right) slammed Sarr's display atĀ Kenilworth Road
It was a night to forget for Sarr, who was handed a rare start by Thomas Tuchel, and Shearer believes the Frenchman was not aggressive enough in dealing with the Championship side.Ā
āSarrās marking Reece Burke, meant to beā¦ heās too nice isnāt he, thereās not enough aggression there,ā Shearer said.
āHeās a yard off him, he touches him, not enough. Itās a very good ball in and run and the contact is superb the way he guides it in that far corner.ā
Richards added: āLike you say, once heās got the run on him and heās got the height on him as wellā¦ heās not aggressive enough.
Sarr was at fault for the first goal which saw Reece Burke beat him in the air from a corner
A failed offside trap from Sarr then allowedĀ Harry Cornick (left) to retake the lead for Luton
āSometimes if youāre a smaller guy youāve just got to make sure youāre close to someone, stop him from being able to get that run.
āIt didnāt happen and heās cost his team a goal.ā
Sportsmail columnist Richards was also left bemused as to why Sarr would try and play an offside trap before Luton's second, insisting the centre back should've just stayed with his man.
āI just donāt understand why you would risk there,ā Richards added.
āHis body shape is all wrong, you can see the strikerās leaning forward and going to make the run in behind.
āJust stay with him. Why give yourself the opportunity to get behind on the run?ā
Shearer (left) and Richards (right) criticised Sarr for his performance on a rare start for Chelsea
Sarr has featured 16 times for Chelsea this season, making three appearances in the FA Cup and just four in the Premier League.
The Frenchman has only completed the full 90 minutes on 10 occasions this campaign given he's fighting for minutes with Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen, Trevoh Chalobah and Cesar Azpilicueta, who also plays at wing-back.Ā
Chelsea are still competing on three fronts after booking their spot in the quarter-finals, as they look to add more silverware to the trophy cabinet, having already won the Club World Cup last month.
Most watched Sport videos
- Travis reveals his and Taylor Swift's reaction to Jason on ESPN
- Caitlin Clark called for foul after egregious flop by Aces' player
- Usman Khawaja reveals why he'd choose his baggy green over the Quran
- Tyreek Hill speeds by police before cops aggressively pull him over
- Viral video of Joe Burrow that had fans fearing a wrist injury
- Shocking bodycam of Tyreek Hill arrest released by Miami-Dade PD
- AFLW star reacts to TikTok video that won her 30,000 followers
- 'Always about the players': Thomas Frank on Brentford ahead of tie
- Jason and Travis Kelce back Taylor Swift to win big at VMA Awards
- Jordan Mason gets mad at reporters during press conference
- Tim Lovejoy talks poking fun at Razor Ruddock in the 90's
- Erik Ten Hag hits back at Cristiano Ronaldo over Man Utd comments