Since signing for Chelsea in September 2020, Edouard Mendy has gone from being a relative unknown to the glamorous footballing world to being one of the best goalkeepers on the planet.
His arrival at Stamford Bridge from Rennes for just £21m two years ago looked like a bargain at the time and has proven to be nothing short of a steal ever since. In those two seasons he has played, Mendy has won the Champions League, Club World Cup, Super Cup, plus the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, as well as some massive individual awards as well.
His confidence on the pitch has evolved so he has a great relationship with his defence, but that is being shaken up this season. Chelsea have lost two of their main centre-backs from the last 18 months and will be bringing in new blood for Mendy to marshal across the pitch.
READ MORE: Kalidou Koulibaly, Presnel Kimpembe - Chelsea transfer priority clear as Blues target next move
Alongside Senegalese compatriot Kalidou Koulibaly, Mendy could find former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake in front of him, or Thomas Tuchel's own previous employee Presnel Kimpembe could be there as the Blues look to strengthen a backline that might still see Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso depart from SW6.
None of this seems to matter to Mendy though, who has taken his confidence from what happens on the pitch and downplayed any suggestion of concern as he is set to come up against two of the worlds brightest attackers next season as Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Liverpool's Darwin Nunez compete in the Premier League.
“I study, I study a lot," he said when asked about how he will prepare for the new opponents. "It’s not about one striker or one team - we just have to focus on every striker, every team we play to win. It’s not because it’s Haaland, I look at Haaland like I look at, say, Benteke at Palace - it’s not that different between Crystal Palace and City. You have to be focused because he is a striker and he can score. So I study. I study. We have our methods and I don’t need to say what they are. But I study a lot. A lot.”
Now, as much as Mendy might not have time to think too much about which way a striker will be shooting when they bare down on goal, Haaland scored more goals last season, 22, than Benteke has in the last six seasons combined. Whilst the idea that Mendy isn't fazed by the man in front of him is a good sign, it's likely that teams will be spending much more time planning to stop the league's newest hitman, as opposed to Benteke.
READ NEXT:
What Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea transfer means for N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Edouard Mendy
- Mason Mount reveals Todd Boehly contract hope and opens up on painful FA Cup final heartbreak
- Chelsea receive big pre-season boost as in-demand star joins up with Thomas Tuchel squad in LA
- Kalidou Koulibaly and Nathan Ake poised to seal Chelsea transfers with two players set to leave
- Full Chelsea Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
