Upheaval at Chelsea for the goalkeeper position. Current incumbent Kepa Arrizabalaga is under fire after his “error” on Wednesday in the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid (0-2). Edouard Mendy, past number two in the hierarchy, could soon resume his post. Unless the Blues are considering other avenues…
It seems far away, this evening in May 2021, when Mendy and his teammates won the Champions League at the expense of Manchester City (0-1). That same year, the Senegalese goalkeeper was crowned best goalkeeper of the season by UEFA. Today, Mendy is chomping at the bit in the London club. The former Stade Rennais goalkeeper has only played nine Premier League games this season and only one in the Champions League. His poor performances caused him to lose his number one spot to Kepa Arrizabalaga. Not in the small papers of ex-coach Graham Potter, nor does he seem to be in those of his successor Frank Lampard, who did not field him in his first two meetings with the Blues.
Back against Madrid?
And the Senegalese international (28 selections) is going through such a complicated season, this is partly explained by this broken finger which took him away from his cage for several weeks. Kepa Arrizabalaga has therefore taken over, but the 28-year-old Spanish goalkeeper, replacing in the two previous seasons, does not give full satisfaction in the English club. Will Edouard Mendy manage to regain his throne? If his pedigree speaks for him, the London directors have broken off contract negotiations over a possible extension of his contract, which runs until 2025. They are considering other avenues for the goalkeeper position.
Lampard ponders goalkeeper switch as Chelsea make triple approach in search for new No1
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 14, 2023
The Cameroonians Andre Onana, excellent since his arrival at Inter Milan last summer, would be in the sights, indicates The Standard. Just like Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), David Raya (Brentford) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia). At 31, Mendy remains a high-class goalkeeper and even if his future is not written on the side of Chelsea, there is no doubt that many courtiers will attract him into their nets. But in the meantime, there is a season to finish and a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League to seek. So, Arrizabalaga or Mendy in the cages for the return match against Madrid this Tuesday, April 18? The suspense remains at its peak…
