In the space of a few months, the goalkeeper conquered Europe and then Africa of football. Winner of the Champions League with Chelsea in May 2021, Edouard Mendy then won the African Cup of Nations with Senegal in February 2022.
On Wednesday March 16, during the return match of the knockout stages of the Champions League, there is no doubt that he will still play on his large size (1.97 meters) and his explosiveness to block the way to Lille attackers. Last season, the doorman had concluded the majority of his league games in England without conceding a goal (16 in 31 starts). At the end of February, during the League Cup final between his club and Liverpool, we again saw him make an impressive double save in front of Sadio Mané.
But for Christophe Lollichon, head of goalkeepers at Chelsea, the influence of Edouard Mendy is measured beyond the spectacular parades:
“A goalkeeper is like an air traffic controller. He scans the ground as one scans planes and will direct his defense in the spaces to be covered in the event of an immediate loss of the ball, in the opposing counter-attack zones… However, if you have a guide like Edouard behind you, that changes all. »
Thus, Edouard Mendy is not only the goalkeeper of the Blues, but also their first raiser. “With his quality of footwork, he can deflect the ball in secure areas”says Lollichon.
“A real motivation”
From Reims to Chelsea via Rennes, the curve of Edouard Mendy’s career follows a linear progression. However, the one who was voted best goalkeeper of the year 2021 by FIFA revealed himself late at the highest level.
Of Senegalese origin by his mother and Bissau-Guinean by his father, Edouard Mendy grew up on the heights of Le Havre, in Caucriauville, a popular district. “We already felt a real motivation in Edouardtestifies Emmanuel Souday, his educator for children under 13. So much so that it was he who took the initiative to contact the HAC [Le Havre Athletic Club] to join their ranks. »
In 2005, the Havrais crossed the doors of the big club of his city, which then evolved in Ligue 2. But the teenager, barred by competition, revived at the municipal club. At the time, he was able to put on the gloves with his under-17 category and then continue with the under-19s and seniors.
He then bounced back to AS Cherbourg, which offered him a federal contract, and managed to get a place in the CFA, the fourth national level. But, at the end of the 2013-2014 season, sporting relegation preceded an administrative descent two levels lower.
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