How Edouard Mendy has already matched Chelsea legend’s record after Leicester triumph



Chelsea stretched their lead to six points at the top of the Premier League thanks to a 3-0 win away to Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Antonio Rudiger and N’Golo Kante put the Blues two goals to the good at the King Power Stadium after 30 minutes and the Foxes never looked like getting back into proceedings.

Hakim Ziyech came off the bench in the second half to set-up fellow substitute Christian Pulisic to make it 3-0, confirming Chelsea will stay top of the table for another week.

It was one of the best performances of a Thomas Tuchel side since his arrival at the start of the year and will have undoubtedly sent a message to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

But while it was not his toughest game, Edouard Mendy was still called upon to make a number of impressive saves, most notably from a vicious Daniel Amartey strike from long range.

The Senegal international has become one of the world’s best shot-stoppers since making the move to Stamford Bridge and he added yet another clean sheet to a staggering record.

He is a player previously branded by Joe Cole as the Blues most important as well.

“I would say he’s Chelsea’s most important player,” Cole said on BT Sport after the 7-0 win against Norwich.

“When he goes away on international duty and Kepa plays, I think Kepa’s a good keeper but if that quality dips then I think Chelsea could struggle.

“Mendy’s standing on the shoulders of giants right now. He’s made a big impact, as much as any other big signing in recent years.”

In what was his 60th appearances, Mendy matched the record Petr Cech boasted at the same point of his career.

Like Mendy, Cech made the move from Stade Rennais, signed by Jose Mourinho at the beginning of that dominant 2004-05 season.

That title-winning side have been compared to Tuchel’s current outfit and this latest record will only further those comparisons.

After both players moved from Rennais, both went on to keep 35 clean sheets in their first 60 games. Remarkable.





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