Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has urged new Chelsea signing Edouard Mendy to strive to reach the level of legendary Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Mendy has followed in Petr Cech’s path, joining Chelsea from Rennes after two full seasons in Ligue 1.
“Every goalkeeper has a journey and a story,” the boss told Chelsea’s official website.
“Petr Cech turned up as a young lad from Ligue 1 in France and created his own story here through his own hard work and his qualities.
“That is the benchmark for any goalkeeper that comes to Chelsea, to try and emulate him. Of course, it’s very tough because of what Petr managed to do in his career.
“Everyone has that opportunity, so it’s a challenge. Not just for Mendy but for every player in the squad.”
Mendy has been brought in to challenge current goalkeepers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero for a starting spot between the sticks at Chelsea, with Lampard keen for strong competition in every position.
At Rennes last season, Mendy saved 78.4 per cent of the shots he faced, which ranked him in the top three goalkeepers in Ligue 1. He also kept nine clean sheets and conceded on average of 0.79 goals per 90 minutes, putting him in the top two goalkeepers in the French top flight for this stat.