Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has divulged the astonishing prediction teammate N’Golo Kante made ahead of Chelsea’s run to their second Champions League triumph
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Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has recounted “the best anecdote” of the club’s surge to the Champions League title last season.
The Blues beat Manchester City in May’s final to be crowned champions of Europe for the second time in their history thanks to Kai Havertz’s winner.
Mendy played his part in the victory by keeping a clean sheet, although he was largely untested by a City side which managed just one shot on target.
This was largely due to the presence of the indomitable Kante in midfield, with the Frenchman crowned man of the match for his tireless display.
Chelsea went into the 2020/21 season as outsiders to lift the Champions League trophy but, remarkably, Kante predicted they would go all the way before their first group-stage game.
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That is according to Mendy, who recalled his conversation with the 30-year-old as they journeyed to Stamford Bridge to host Sevilla in October 2020.
“I have the best anecdote of the season. We were travelling with N’Golo, Kurt (Zouma) and Olivier (Giroud),” the shot-stopper told beIN Sports France .
“N’Golo confidently said: ‘Guys I think this year we will win the Champions League. Yes, I don’t know, I have a feeling’. The first day.
“I told him to wait and see how the game went tonight.”
Kante’s bold prediction got off to an underwhelming start as the Blues were held to a 0-0 draw by their Spanish opposition, who had the lion’s share of possession during a cagey fixture.
Mendy added: “That night Sevilla played and honestly, it was the most difficult game we had in the group stage.
“They came to our pitch and they pushed us like crazy, they had the ball 70 per cent of the time. N’Golo, I think he ran 13 kilometres.”
Despite the tepid result, Kante stuck by his prediction as Mendy approached him after the full-time whistle.
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“At the end of the game, I asked him again and he said: ‘I think we’ll wait a little bit before we say that’,” the Senegal international said.
Kante has struggled with injuries this season and he has only made six starts in 14 Premier League games.
Mendy, meanwhile, has been ever-present between the posts and has started all but one of Chelsea’s top-flight and Champions League fixtures.
The Blues have already secured progression to the last 16 ahead of their trip to Zenit St Petersburg next Wednesday.
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