Chelsea goalkeeper named as team’s most influential player

Everton have just lost Abdoulaye Doucoure to a serious injury, and it look a massive blow to their prospects for the season.

On the back of the Toffees losing their key man, the Daily Mail posed the question of who each Premier League team’s most influential player was.

For Chelsea they came up with Edouard Mendy.

In a way, it’s a great shout. It seems only recently the stopper has started to get the credit he deserves for the team’s amazing defensive record, and his absence from the 30 man Ballon d’Or shortlist was a perfect example of that.

The upgrade from Kepa to Mendy also provided the single fastest and most decisive upgrade to the side from the Sarri-Lampard era to the new Thomas Tuchel team. We’ve quickly forgotten how nightmarish it was having a goalie you couldn’t rely on.

On the other hand, can a keeper ever really be a team’s most influential player, especially in a team that dominates most games?

No matter where you come down on the argument, there’s no disputing his huge impact in a little over a year.