Malang Sarr 'likes' an Instagram post announcing Pochettino's exit

Chelsea have risked a dressing room revolt with the sudden axing of Mauricio Pochettino - but the news is being welcomed by at least one of their players.

Pochettino was relieved of his duties on Tuesday afternoon by mutual agreement, 48 hours after his final game, despite being popular in the Chelsea dressing room.

And while supporters have been divided over the former Tottenham manager's presence on the touchline there is one player who his exit appears to be popular with.

Malang Sarr, the French centre back signed by Chelsea on a five-year contract in 2020, was spotted 'liking' the club's Instagram post about Pochettino's agreed departure on Tuesday.

Sarr, 25, has one year remaining on his £100,000-per-week deal at the club but has been exiled from the first team entirely by Pochettino after being deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

Earlier this year The Athletic reported that Sarr no longer has a locker in the first-team building at Chelsea's Cobham training ground and gets changed to train with the Under 21s instead.

He has not been involved in matches for Under 21s and when they have games he trains alone or with other youth squads.

A source said: 'I have never seen him as low as this. This is the first time I have seen him like this. He tries to change his mental state, but it is hard when you are not playing. He is not in the first-team dressing room anymore, he is with the kids in the other building.

'He feels outside the group. He tries to hide his feelings, but I know him, what he is really feeling.

'He loved playing under Tuchel. But some of the closest friends he made, like N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount, have left. He goes to train because it is his job but I know he finds it very hard because any footballer who knows they are not going to play matches will find it difficult.'