Sarr’s impressive performance at left-back unlocked Callum Hudson-Odoi from his defensive shackles and gave Mason Mount the opportunity to impress in his more favoured central midfield position.
Tuchel has tried to compensate for his lack of natural wingbacks by deploying the likes of Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Saul Niguez, and Hakim Ziyech at wing-back, but Sarr’s inclusion at left-back could spark the end of this fraught practice.
A plethora of late goals and individual mistakes made in the run-up to Christmas spectacularly derailed Chelsea’s title challenge before the campaign even reached the half-way point.
Their race for the Premier League may well have already been ran, but Sarr could at least save the Blues from another expensive transfer signing.
It is too early to say that Sarr is the man to fill Rudiger’s shoes if the German leaves, but he certainly has the foundations, mentally and tactically, to entrench himself in Chelsea folklore alongside Rudiger.