MAKE GLOVE, NOT WAR

Mendy reveals rival Kepa has been a huge help in him settling in... even though he’s about to take his place

NEW Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy revealed Kepa Arrizabalaga has helped him – despite the Senegal star arriving to take his glove rival’s Premier League place.

The £22million keeper is set to start at Old Trafford this evening after a Champions League clean sheet in midweek.

Mendy was signed after £71.6m Kepa – the world’s most expensive goalkeeper – dropped clangers in the first two games of the season. But the former Rennes No.1 said the Spaniard’s off-the-pitch performances have shown they are part of the goalkeeper’s union.

“Before my first match, absolutely he wished me good luck,” said Mendy.

“He never holds back if he thinks he sees things that I might have missed, just as Willy

Caballero does as well.

And we know, as goalkeepers, that we have to stay unified and united.

“I have a very good relationship with Kepa and the group of goalkeepers we have. We’re all very open and all understand that the team is the most important thing here and doing what’s right for the group.”

Former Rennes and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech – who is now technical advisor at Stamford Bridge – hand-picked Mendy to follow him to west London.

And the 28-year-old said he grasped the chance, despite the pressure and competition. “Everyone who knows and follows football could see there was a unique situation here with regards to goalkeepers, but it really wasn’t something that had any role in my decision to come to Chelsea,” said 6ft 5in Mendy.

“The coach, along with the rest of the club, reassured me that this would be the best club for me to continue developing as a player and to help the team. That’s what I’m focusing on.”

Mendy has overcome bigger obstacles in his career after spending a year claiming u nemploymen t benef i t away Premier League games have seen more goals scored than any other side’s have in the competition (87), with the Blues shipping more goals on the road than any other Premier League side in that time (42).

Only once in their league history have United lost each of their opening three home league games in a single campaign, doing so in the 1930-31 season when they finished bottom.

The Reds last lost three consecutive league matches at home in February 1979. following his release third- choice goalkeeper Cherbourg in 2014.

Aged 22, he returned to train with his first club Le Havre before he got a trial at Marseille.

Mendy added: “When I was unemployed and receiving benefits, it is true that it was really tough for me. I did genuinely have my doubts about whether I’d carry on.

“I had to take unemployment support, so I could dedicate myself totally to football.

“My partner was expecting our first baby and so the money wasn’t going to be enough. I did start looking for other work.

“It was incredibly stressful, I was going to become a father and I just didn’t have any real visibility on my future.

“What I did was take refuge in my work. But I look at it now and say that it’s thanks to those moments that I am where I am today.” as by