‘I look at Haaland like Benteke’ – Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy compares Man City goal machine to Palace striker
EDOUARD MENDY says he will prepare to face Erling Haaland in the same way he would Christian Benteke.
And Chelsea keeper Mendy insists they will not be giving Manchester City’s new superstar Haaland any special treatment next season.
The Senegal stopper views the challenge presented by the Norway superstar, 21, in a similar way to that of Crystal Palace’s experienced frontman Benteke, 31.
Mendy said: “It’s not about one striker or one team. We just have to focus on every striker, every team we play to win. It’s not because it’s Haaland.
“I look at Haaland like I look at Benteke – it’s not that different between Crystal Palace and City.
“You have to be focused because he is a striker and he can score.”
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Asked how he analyses opposition strikers, Mendy explained: “I study. I study. A lot, a lot. It’s my work so I work a lot.”
Mendy is currently in LA on Chelsea’s pre-season tour.
The 30-year-old has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Prem since arriving from Rennes in 2020.
He believes the Blues can push champions City this season but that fellow title-rivals Liverpool have been weakened by the loss of his international pal Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich.
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Mendy added: “It is a big loss for the Premier League in terms of quality, in terms of a person.
“He had the quality, the impact and also for the young players it’s an example.
“We lost someone great and I hope for him he will enjoy Bundesliga.”