EDOUARD MENDY revealed the very first game his family ever saw him play live for Chelsea was their heroic Champions League final win.
The stopper signed for Chelsea in September 2020 from Rennes, during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
During the time, all matches were played behind-closed-doors, with Premier League fans only partially returning in the December.
Chelsea later went on to sack club legend Frank Lampard – who brought Mendy to Stamford Bridge – and German Thomas Tuchel came in as replacement.
Tuchel later guided the Blues into the Champions League final against Manchester City at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao.
Up to 16,500 spectators were allowed to attend and allowed players’ family and friends to be there.
For Mendy, who was unemployed only seven years ago, it was the first time his closest fans got to see him in Chelsea colours.
He said: “I was thinking, first of all, of my family because they hadn’t been able to watch the games in London up to that point due to lockdown.
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“So the first game for them was the Champions League final. I think it was the best game for them to watch me for the first time in a Chelsea shirt!
“I also thought about the period when times were difficult, when I was without a club, and I thought about my journey.
“It was a mix of feelings, but I was super happy.”
Chelsea won the game thanks to a Kai Havertz’s opener, giving the club their second Champions League trophy.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk