BREAKING: Edouard Mendy breaks massive Premier League record after Chelsea 1-0 victory over Brentford
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy earned considerable praise on Saturday night with a brilliant performance in Chelsea’s victory against Brentford.
However, Ben Chilwell was the match-winner on paper for the Blues, with his first-half strike being enough to secure the three points.
However, it ended up being the Senegalese goalkeeper who secured the most plaudits after a series of impressive saves to keep out the Bees.
Meanwhile, according to Opta , Mendy’s performance was certainly pivotal in Chelsea securing a clean sheet at the Brentford Community Stadium – the 20th Premier League shutout of Mendy’s career thus far since joining from Rennes last summer.
However, it has taken Mendy just 38 starts for him to secure that landmark shutout, the equivalent of a full season, in the process becoming the fifth-fastest goalkeeper in the league’s history to chalk-up that number.
Marginally ahead of him sit the likes of former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll – who achieved the feat in 37 starts – and ex-Liverpool pair Alisson and Pepe Reina, sitting at 36 and 32 starts respectively.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea man Frank Leboeuf, who hailed the stopper shortly after his move to Stamford Bridge was confirmed.
Talking to ESPN FC in 2020, the Frenchman said: “He had a very good season at Rennes, I am very confident that he can do the job much better than Kepa and even [Willy] Caballero.
“I don’t know if there is another goalkeeper that Chelsea could find, but for that amount of money it’s a bargain to have Mendy.
“He’s a tall goalkeeper, very agile and I’m sure he’s going to do the job. But Kepa cannot do the job anymore, it’s over.”