The Blues number one feels no antipathy from the man he replaced between the sticks last year. Chelsea and Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy had shed light on his rapport with club colleague Kepa Arrizabalaga, revealing the pair have a “very good” relationship.
The West African displaced the Spaniard as Blues number one after arriving from Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes at the start of last season and has kept his place in the side.
Mendy was pivotal in Chelsea’s Champions League win, keeping a staggering nine clean sheets in his 12 appearances, including the 1-0 final success over Manchester City. He has stayed on as the first-choice goalkeeper this term, with Kepa remaining the understudy to the 29-year-old.
Despite being the Senegalese’s substitute, the African reckons there is no animosity between them.
“My relationship with Kepa is very good, as is my relationship with Marcus [Bettinelli], the third goalkeeper at Chelsea. We compete with interest,” Mendy told Egyptian outlet El Match TV during the international break.
“The most important thing is that the competition between the players is for the benefit of the team. The titles are for the club and not for the player.
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“My relationship with my teammates is very good. I respect everyone and there is always a state of friendship between us.”
Mendy has continued the fine form he showed for the majority of last season so far this term, keeping six clean sheets in 10 Premier League games—joint-top with Man City shot-stopper Ederson— and claiming a few men of the match awards along the way.
In the Champions League, the Teranga Lion has kept three shut-outs in four appearances, a joint-high in the competition.
The Senegal star is expected to continue in goal for Thomas Tuchel’s side when they return to league action at Leicester City on Saturday lunchtime looking to hold on to the top spot in the standings.
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