Chelsea supporters on social media all nodded in unison after hearing Sadio Mane’s comments about Edouard Mendy.
Mane recently came out in defence of Mendy’s omission from the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or.
“It is unacceptable. I do not understand, these are things to deplore,” said the £34 million Liverpool forward (BBC Sport).
Admittedly, these comments may have been made through Senegalese tinted glasses.
Mendy and Mane are international teammates of four years, so it’s understandable where the latter’s perplexity is stemming from.
It’s not often red and blue co-exist, but on this occasion, Chelsea fans approved of the Liverpool attacker’s remarks.
Here’s how they reacted on Twitter:
MANEEEEEE I LOVEEEE YOUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/dz87vGg008
— Storm🇲🇾 (@Prince_Havertz) October 13, 2021
Hes got ball knowledge
— Nicklas (@Zike_69) October 13, 2021
Facts
— coybdonssnz (@coybdonszn) October 13, 2021
He’s spot on.. How does he win the champions league best goal keeper and misses out on Ballon d’or nomination.
— D’father 😎 (@Obibine3) October 13, 2021
Sadio knows ball 👏🏻
— 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚟𝚘𝚘𝚘🥤 (@surennnn11) October 13, 2021
yesterday vvd now mane liverpool lads know ball 😩😩😩
— • (@lafilledhiverw) October 13, 2021
Mendy a man of the people
Mendy is clearly a popular member of the Senegal dressing room.
Along with Mane’s observations, Kalidou Koulibaly also claimed the Chelsea goalkeeper should have been put up for the Ballon d’Or.
“Now it’s a real shame that Edou isn’t one of them. He is the first African goalkeeper to win the Champions League,” expressed the Napoli defender.
Perhaps the shot-stopper should feel slightly aggrieved not to have even made the final 30.
After all, as Koulibaly rightly pointed out, he made history by claiming European glory in May.
He also broke the record for most clean sheets in a debut Champions League campaign
Plus, the 29-year-old was awarded the UEFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year prize.
That has all been achieved in less than 12 months.
Golden award not for goalkeepers
However, Mendy shouldn’t be too disheartened by his Ballon d’Or exclusion.
The honour has never looked too kindly upon ‘keepers.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the one gloved protector added to this year’s panel.
Lev Yashin remains the only GK to have ever won the lucrative individual accolade.
Will that statistic ever be reversed? Mendy might have plans to do so.