Mark Schwarzer says Edouard Mendy’s ‘commanding’ presence in the box can help take the pressure off Chelsea’s defence.
The Blues confirmed the signing of the 28-year-old goalkeeper on Thursday, striking a £22 million deal with Ligue 1 side Rennes.
Mendy becomes Chelsea’s seventh major signing of the summer, in what has proved to be an extraordinary window for the west London club, spending close to £250 million on new players.
Current No.1 Kepa Arrizabalaga has struggled since making the £72 million move from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.
His high-profile errors cost his side on multiple occasions last season, and have continued into the new campaign, with the Spaniard gifting Sadio Mane his second goal as Frank Lampard’s side slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
Mendy, who stands at 6ft 6in, has an extra five inches of height on Kepa, and former Blues stopper Schwarzer believes the new signing’s aerial dominance will help Chelsea’s back line enormously.
‘I think that’s something that Chelsea have lacked a little bit particularly since [Thibaut] Courtois and Petr Cech left the club, two goalkeepers that more often than not came out and dominated their 18-yard box.
‘Kepa’s not been one to carry that on. Mendy’s a big guy, he loves to come out and take crosses, and that itself will alleviate so much pressure for defenders and it’s huge for a team.’
