Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy opens up on relationship with Kepa Arrizabalaga

Edouard Mendy says he has a good relationship with fellow Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, and that is improving his game.
Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (R) replaces Chelsea's French-born Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy  (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (R) replaces Chelsea's French-born Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy  (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (R) replaces Chelsea's French-born Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Chelsea’s Senegalese goalkeeper Edoaurd Mendy says he has a “good” relationship with Kepa Arrizabalaga, despite replacing the Basque as the club’s first choice goalkeeper.

Kepa arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2018 as one of the world’s promising goalkeepers and cost Chelsea at the club’s record £71million, the highest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After a good first season under Maurizio Sarri which ended with the Europa League title, things began to fall apart for the former Athletic Bilbao man under Frank Lampard and eventually led to the signing of Mendy from Rennes.

Mendy’s arrival at the club coincided with Chelsea becoming one of the tightest defences in the league, and confined Kepa to a place on the bench.

Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea prepares to replace teammate Edouard Mendy  (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea prepares to replace teammate Edouard Mendy  (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea prepares to replace teammate Edouard Mendy (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

There is always the tendency for friction between two players fighting for the same position, but Mendy says he is enjoying a good relationship with his fellow ‘keeper and they are always pushing each other to the limit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“My relationship with Kepa is very good, as is my relationship with Marcus [Bettinelli], the third goalkeeper at Chelsea. We compete with interest,” Mendy told El Match TV in Egypt while on international duty.

“The most important thing is that the competition between the players is for the benefit of the team. The titles are for the club and not for the player.

“My relationship with my teammates is very good. I respect everyone and there is always a state of friendship between us.”

Mendy showed tremendous promise under Frank Lampard who brought him to the club, but he’s pushed on and is genuinely one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment under Thomas Tuchel.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When asked what the the main difference between the two managers was, the 29-year-old chose highlight their similarities rather than their differences.

“At the beginning of my career, I didn’t think that I would be one of the best goalkeepers in the world” he added.

“Lampard was delighted I had joined Chelsea, and assured me that I would be an influential factor with the team and that helped me give my best.

“There is no comparison between Lampard and Tuchel.

“Each coach has his own philosophy and we have to benefit from everyone.”

Five of Edouard Mendy’s best stats since he joined Chelsea

  • Having played 10 Premier League games for Chelsea this season, Mendy averages 0.4 goals conceded per game. 
  • He also has a clean sheet ratio of 60%, meaning he has kept 6 clean sheets in 10 Premier League games. 
  • Edouard Mendy made history by becoming the first goalkeeper to keep nine clean-sheets in his debut Champions League season, helping the Blues to the title in Porto. 
  • Mendy also became the first shot-stopper since Marc-Andre ter Stegen in 2015 to win the Champions League in their debut campaign in the competition.
  • Mendy kept three Premier League clean sheets in his first three games for the club, becoming the first goalkeeper since Peter Cech to have achieved that in his first three starts for the club.