Edouard Mendy shows what makes him one of Chelsea’s ‘best ever signings’ in intense pre-match warm-up drill

Footage of Edouard Mendy’s intense pre-match training regime has emerged, helping explain why the Chelsea shot-stopper is in world class form.

Mendy joined the Blues from Rennes in September 2020, coming in as a late solution to the form of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

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At £71m, Spaniard Kepa is the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, but was dropped due to continued poor performances, with Mendy instantly making the spot in goal his own.

The 29-year-old Senegal international was a saviour for previous manager Frank Lampard, before getting even better under Thomas Tuchel, helping backstop Chelsea to Champions League glory in his first season.

And for rival keepers looking for clues as to how Mendy went from relative obscurity to one of the best in the world in just a year, his pre-match rituals may give some explanation.

Fan footage ahead of Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Newcastle at St. James Park where Mendy racked up his league-leading sixth clean sheet of the season shows his intense drills.

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The £22m signing is seen having shots fired at him from near point-blank range by a coach, turning each of them away with his European Cup-winning reactions.

Mendy’s displays, such as in the 1-0 win at Brentford, have led to claims he is one of Chelsea’s greatest ever signings, while some of his colleagues have been shocked he didn’t make it on the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

"[Chelsea] had a goalkeeper that performed miracles [against Brentford] and you could argue that he’s been one of Chelsea’s best ever signings," former Stamford Bridge striker Tony Cascarino told talkSPORT.

“He cost £17million from Rennes, came in and seemed to breeze into the team. Showed no signs of concerns of nerves."

Antonio Rudiger, was stunned the keeper didn’t join five of his Chelsea colleagues on the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist.

“Someone explain why he’s not nominated for the Ballon d’Or,” he wrote on Twitter. 

“What a performance… EDOUARD MENDY,” referring to his match-winning display against Brentford.

International colleague Sadio Mane was similarly unimpressed with how the voting turned out, saying: “It’s unacceptable, I don’t understand.

“Edou is a very positive person, we talked about it together and he will continue to fight to be part of it. For me, he has a place among these 30 players.”