Lions of Terenga safe hands has shown his backing to his countryman despite losing two finals to Sadio Mane and both plying their trade with two English rival clubs Liverpool and Chelsea. Edouard Mendy says he wants Liverpool forward Sadio Mane to smile after Saturday’s encounter against Madrid, as winning the Champions League may boost his countryman’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Edouard Mendy and Sadio Mane were part of the Lions of Teranga’s AFCON winning squad in January this year in Cameroon. They defeated Egypt in a penalty shootout that favoured Senegal.
Both Senegalese have recorded great history in the Champions League, being the latest players to win the Champions League in the 2019 and 2021 editions respectively.
In an interview with Foot Marcato, the Chelsea number one said:
“I want Sadio to win the Champions League, of course,”
“He is having an exceptional season, he is in the running for the Ballon d’Or and the Champions League will mark a turning point. He plays against his biggest competitor. Whoever emerges victorious will score a lot of points.”
Edouard Mendy also hailed Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema for his achievements this season. He has scored 27 goals and provided 12 assists to help his team win La Liga, And in the Champions League, he has 15 goals in 11 matches played.
“Yes, [Benzema] he is one of the best strikers but when you play in the Premier League, you play against the best in the position in the world. He is part of it,” Mendy continued.
“He has been at a very high level for many years. Everything that happens to him, he deserves it enormously, whether in the club or the recall in selection which dates from last year. He worked for, and it is quite logical that he performs at this level.”
The spotlight of the world definitely will be on Paris, France when the two giants meet yet again in a show-piece and epic final on Saturday. Liverpool will jostle for their seventh European triumph to join Milan as the second most successful club in Europe, while Los Blancos will look forward to extending their European triumph to fourteen in their history.
