Edouard Mendy’s meteoric rise in the football world continued on Monday night when he was declared 2021’s second best goalkeeper in the world according to those who judge the awarding of the Yashin Trophy, the special honour for men’s players in his position which is part of the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.
The Chelsea goalie, now in his second season at the club, has enjoyed an exemplary year which had the Champions League win as its centrepiece but which has continued on with an impressive collection of clean sheets and very few goals conceded.Having been announced as runner-up to Italy’s Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for the Yashin Trophy, Mendy gave his delighted reaction.‘It is an incredible achievement for me and I am really proud to be in Chelsea and to be part of the club,’ he began.
‘We did an excellent job last year and we continue this year. Hopefully everything will continue well. See you next year!’ he smiled.‘For football, 2021 is the best year of my life because it was an amazing season, we won the biggest title in Europe in my first year in a big club. It's my best year at the moment but I hope the next years will be better or the same.’Needless to say beating Man City in May is the standout moment but for Mendy, the memories to cherish do not stop there.‘So many highlights!’ he declares, ‘from the games against my previous club Rennes to playing the semi-final against Real Madrid and the final in Porto, so many moments to keep, to appreciate.’But what, in his own opinion, is his best save from them all?‘I think it was against Madrid, in the semi-final at home, because the score was 0-0 and they had a great chance.
‘I made the save from Benzema to keep us in the game and we scored three minutes after, so for me it is the biggest save I have made.’