As personal references go, Edouard Mendy could hardly have got a better one when he was recommended by Petr Cech before he signed for Chelsea.
Cech, Chelsea’s greatest-ever goalkeeper, was asked by Frank Lampard to identify a potential replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga over the summer.
Having followed Mendy’s career closely for three years since being told about him by Christophe Lollichon, his former goalkeeping coach at Rennes and Chelsea, Cech suggested the Blues sign the Senegal international.
Mendy moved to Stamford Bridge for £22milion in September and faces his former club in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
He has made a good start to his Chelsea career, keeping five straight clean sheets, and he has not conceded a goal since his debut against Tottenham.
Quick reunion: Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy faces old club Rennes in the Champions League on Wednesday
POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesHe has brought a sense of calm to a Chelsea backline that always looked vulnerable with Kepa in goal.
“When we were in to look to sign Edou, we made the enquiries, Petr Cech was heavily involved,” said manager Lampard ahead of Wednesday night’s Group E clash.
“All the feedback was that he had a very strong personality in the dressing room.
“So it’s a real positive when you have a player that comes in and hits the ground running on the pitch, but also is a real positive in the dressing room. And he’s been that.
“He’s given off a sense of calm in his distribution and his coming for crosses - things you want from your goalkeeper.
"I think there is going to be a lot more to come, with his attitude, which is key.
"I’ve seen how he wants to work and the humility of him - he can go much further in many departments.”
