Edouard Mendy could be axed from Chelsea XI as new details emerge – pundit
Noel Whelan has claimed Edouard Mendy could be replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga at Chelsea after his “strange” form thus far this term.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted teams and managers will be targeting the 30-year-old after his start to the new campaign.
Mendy has made a catalogue of errors so far this season and was fortunate to win a foul after spilling the ball at the feet of Jarrod Bowen during Chelsea’s 2-1 win over West Ham on Saturday (3 September).
As per FBRef, the Senegal star is struggling in the post-shot expected goals prevented stakes this term – conceding 1.9 more goals than expected across six games this season.
According to the London Evening Standard (5 September), Arrizabalaga wanted to depart Stamford Bridge during the summer window amid an offer from Napoli.
As quoted in that report, manager Thomas Tuchel insisted the world-record goalkeeper is “100% ready” to play and is training “very, very good”.
Whelan told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “There’s an opportunity here for Kepa.
“That’s always the case when players aren’t playing to the best of their ability or look a little low on confidence.
“That is what Mendy is at the moment. He’s making some strange decisions and looking a little bit nervy.
“When you’ve got another world-class goalkeeper waiting in the wings, it gives Tuchel something to think about. Does Mendy need to sit out for a couple of games?
“He needs to try and find that confidence back, because teams and managers will be targeting him right now and putting the ball on him.
“He’s parrying shots out into dangerous areas – and all these things are working against Chelsea.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire fumes as £2.5bn Chelsea funds frozen – “you can’t justify this”.