Lampard confirms Rennes goalkeeper Mendy undergoing medical at Chelsea
SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 22, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANK LAMPARD, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:
"Yes (Edouard) Mendy is having a medical as we speak so subject to that being okay later on he will become our player at that point."
2. WHITE FLASH
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANK LAMPARD, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:
"I don't know what benefits anyone in the long run, football is always in your hands in the current moment and how you work going forward. I think competition is a regular thing at a club like Chelsea, I know the goalkeeper situation is not always as clear cut as that, but that's where we're at.
"We have brought Mendy in to bring that competition, we know that's an area that Kepa (Arrizabalaga) himself wants to improve in his own performance.
"So it's in everybody's hands in this squad to push, to train, to have the right attitude to try and compete to get in the team. That remains the same.
"I'm not making any final statements at all at the minute, football is not like that. The players have to work, they have to be a squad, they have to have spirit and be together and back each other, goalkeepers particularly in their small group they have to do that day-to-day, and we'll see."
4. WHITE FLASH
5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANK LAMPARD, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:
"I think it is the hardest position because of the individual nature of it and because the mistakes generally get punished with goals, that doesn't happen necessarily in other parts of the pitch. So the eye can easily be drawn to that and I understand that, so I also as a manager have to be sympathetic to that point.
"Last year I changed the goalkeeper between Kepa and Willy (Caballero) a few times and when I do it I do it with a different thought process to how I do it with outfield players because I understand the different elements to it so I'm very aware of that.
"At the same time we're always striving for the best performance we can get and that's what we must continue to do."
6. WHITE FLASH
7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANK LAMPARD, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:
"He's in the squad for tomorrow. I'm not sure whether that's a birthday present or not for him. He's getting fit so in the squad and I'll make a decision on how many minutes he may get during the game, what's best for him."
STORY: Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is undergoing a medical at Chelsea ahead of his transfer from French club Rennes, the London club's manager Frank Lampard said on Tuesday (September 22).
Chelsea's decision to boost their goalkeeping options follows a dip in form since the start of last season for first-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was at fault in Liverpool's second goal on Sunday.
Lampard said the arrival of Mendy, who played 33 games in all competitions for Rennes last campaign, helping them finish third in Ligue 1 and qualify for the Champions League, will boost competition for the number one choice at Chelsea.
Mendy is expected to undergo a COVID-19 test before he can join the first-team squad.
"He (Mendy) is having a medical as we speak," Lampard said https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/09/22/frank-lampard-chelsea-vs-barnsley-press-conference?cardIndex=0-0
ahead of Chelsea's League Cup game against second-tier Championship side Barnsley on Wednesday.
Lampard said newly-signed defenders Brazilian Thiago Silva and England's Ben Chilwell could make their Chelsea debut on Wednesday, with Willy Caballero in goal.
"He (Thiago Silva) is in the squad for tomorrow.
"He's getting fit so I'll make a decision on how many minutes he may get during the game depending on what's best for him," he said.
($1 = 0.8507 euros)
(Production: Andy Ragg)
