Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was delighted with the performance of Edouard Mendy after the Senegal international helped his side escape from Old Trafford with a draw thanks to a string of fine saves.
The 28-year-old, a £22million signing from Rennes, has already established himself as the club’s undisputed No.1, displacing the club’s error-prone record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Mendy almost suffered the ignominy of putting through his own net during the early stages of a largely dour match when he badly misplaced a pass and put the ball out for a corner.
A weaker personality may have crumbled, but Mendy hardly put a foot wrong thereafter and made crucial saves from Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford twice to preserve a deserved point for the visitors.
‘His performance was very good, you rely on your goalkeeper for those moments it was a tight game,’ said Lampard afterwards.
‘It wasn’t a match full of many chances, there was the Rashford chance in the first half. At first it was a mistake from us and a moment of quality from him (Mendy) at the end.
He showed what he’s there for. We bought him in because we knew he was quality, he’s shown great composure in the games he’s played already and I’m delighted with the saves today because in a tight game you rely on that moment and it wins us a point.’
Lampard’s opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer agreed Mendy’s performance was the main difference between his side being forced to settle for a point and ending their winless run on home soil.
‘He pulled off some fantastic saves so, all-in-all, an even game but I felt if there was going to be a winner it should have been us with them chances. Could have been us.’
