Mendy sets Champions League record

Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, has set a Champions League record having kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 defeat of Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old has not leaked a goal in eight encounters out of 11 in the current campaign. That is the most in a single season by any goalkeeper playing for an English team in the history of the competition.

This also meant that the Londoners have kept 18 clean sheets out of 24 matches under manager Thomas Tuchel in all competitions (75%), compared with 26 in 84 games under his predecessor Frank Lampard (31%).

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The Senegal international was lured from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes in a £22million ($31m) deal as the six-time English top-flight kings sought to find greater stability between the sticks as costly errors had crept into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s game.

He has since proven to be one of the bargain signings, making crucial saves for the Stamford Bridge giants since the start of January.

In a recent chat with France Football, Mendy claimed that he doesn’t count clean sheets while talking up the importance of a strong team dynamic with regards to the art of defending.

“I know I made a lot of clean sheets but I’m not counting them,” he said.

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“That’s because it’s not something that I make on my own. The goalkeeper is as important as the guy in front of him. At the end of the day, I’m the one who has to make the stops, yes.

“But in front of me, there is a whole structure, ten players who move and complicate the task of the opponent. It’s a team performance and not something I can own on my own.”