Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has praised Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for the impact they are currently having not just in English football but across the world.
The Liverpool forwards are operating at the top level and have for a number of seasons. Constantly being placed among the world’s best players, Salah and Mendy are setting the standard and reaching finals not just domestically but also internationally.
The duo faced each other in the African Cup of Nations final earlier this year as Mane’s Senegal beat Salah’s Egypt on penalties – with the former scoring the winning penalty.
Mendy was in goal for Senegal and has seen just how difficult Salah is to stop. He was also in goal for Chelsea when they lost this season’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals to Liverpool on penalties, although he did make a save from Mane in the latter.
And Mendy has hailed their contribution to football, saying it’s great for African football to have two players who are ‘true examples, role models and give hope to young people’ across the world.
“When you see African players, people like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who really play at the highest possible level, then we talk about the best world players not just the best African players,” said the 30-year-old speaking at the World Economic Forum transcribed by Goal.
“I think this is what we need to focus on. They are true examples, role models and give hope to young people, making them desire to work and exceed the limits to achieve one goal. This is how football has impacted on social level in all countries around the world.”
Both Mane and Salah will be hoping to beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final which happens on Saturday.
