Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell – none of Chelsea’s summer signings can claim to have had such a dramatic effect on the Blues’ fortunes so far this season than Edouard Mendy.
Mendy, acquired for £22 million ($29m) as the final piece of Frank Lampard’s summer transfer spree, is now set for a rapid reunion with former club Rennes as Chelsea prepare for their Champions League showdown on Wednesday.
The goalkeeper goes into the game having not conceded a goal in his last 457 minutes on the pitch, and with five clean sheets to his name from six appearances in a Chelsea shirt.
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Given the west London outfit shipped 54 Premier League goals last season, few saw their transformation with a new man between the posts coming quite this quickly.
While Chelsea may still be conceding an average of two goals per game when Kepa Arrizabalaga is playing, that figure reduces to only 0.25 goals per game when Mendy is selected.
But the Senegal international has not just made an impact with his shot-stopping capabilities; he is also collecting crosses with authority and dealing with one-on-ones with more confidence than the world’s most-expensive keeper.
Mendy’s ability is underpinned by not just his size – at 6’6″ – but also his speed.
That was highlighted both by his quick reactions to Kurt Zouma missing an early cross against Burnley on Saturday as well as his adeptness at closing down Ashley Barnes, who was through on goal.
“He has been great with the ball at his feet and he is big too,” said Zouma after the 3-0 win on Saturday. “He has presence and catches the ball when he comes out. He is talking a lot, doing a great job. He settled in very quickly, but we have to keep focused.”
It is hard to quantify just how pivotal these moments have been; it could be that they have impacted results as much as goals at the other end, such as Hakim Ziyech’s opener in their last Premier League outing.
