Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy breaks silence on contract talks and future amid praise on Thomas Tuchel
Speaking to Wettbasis (h/t Football.London), Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy opened up about his contract talks and future at the club amid high praise for former Blues manager Thomas Tuchel.
Since arriving in 2020, Mendy had a fantastic first two seasons with the club where he was not only one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League but also the world.
The Senegal international’s form dipped in the latter half of last season and remained on the negative at the start of this campaign. After a few weeks into the season, he picked up an injury in a game against West Ham United and Kepa Arrizabalaga took over the gloves.
The Spaniard did a good job and kept his place even when Mendy returned to full fitness. However, with the former now picking up an injury, the latter is back in goal. According to Daily Mail, it was reported that the 30-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain.
Here’s what Mendy said about his future amid high praise for Tuchel (h/t Football.London):
“We’ll see what happens next with the Blues. The season is still very long. Recently I got a few games again. One thing is certain: I will continue to give it my all in the hope of getting more playing time again.
“I will always remember Thomas Tuchel very positively. The time with the Blues was super awesome with him. He has always given the maximum for his players and strived for the maximum. He could identify 1000% with his task.”
The Senegal star still has a contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2025 (Transfermarkt). He is a top keeper who underwent a dip in form in the last few months.
Although manager Graham Potter seems to prefer Kepa in goal, he has spoken about football deciding who his number one is, and not the name.
If Mendy has a great World Cup with Senegal, it might be tough for the boss to leave him out and start the Spaniard, who is sitting at home during the tournament.
Considering his quality and experience, it might not be the right option for Chelsea to let go of Mendy in the near future. Knowing Kepa’s past and how unstable he can be as a goalkeeper, the Senegal international could still pip the Spaniard for that number-one spot.
More Chelsea News:
- Former USMNT striker gives verdict on Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic and him potentially playing for Real Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso wants Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi to stay till the end of the season
- Liverpool and Juventus track Mason Mount after Chelsea contract stand-off
It seems that having two goalkeepers roughly of the same quality is proving to be a headache for Chelsea – as opposed to other big teams that often have a clear distinction between a top-quality starting No. 1 and an understudy/veteran on the bench.