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UEFA Awards: Chelsea leaves its mark on the ceremony

By Subhrajit Chowdhury

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas and Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho are awarded players of the year during the draw for the UEFA Champions League football tournament in Istanbul on August 26, 2021. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas and Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho are awarded players of the year during the draw for the UEFA Champions League football tournament in Istanbul on August 26, 2021. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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TOPSHOT – Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante (C) lifts the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at the Dragao stadium in Porto on May 29, 2021. (Photo by David Ramos / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DAVID RAMOS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante (C) lifts the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at the Dragao stadium in Porto on May 29, 2021. (Photo by David Ramos / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DAVID RAMOS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Edouard Mendy (Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year)

Edouard Mendy is a hidden gem that was essentially gifted to Chelsea last season. Kepa Arrizabalaga improved a lot over last campaign and he even won the Blues the UEFA Super Cup this season. However, in the 2019/20 season, he was one of the worst keepers in the Premier League. Chelsea needed a replacement for Arrizabalaga and it found Mendy at Stade Rennais.

The Senegalese goalkeeper was not well known in the English top flight, but he had a brilliant season in the Ligue 1 before coming to Stamford Bridge. His height, physicality and reflexes easily made him the first choice keeper over the struggling Spaniard. Credit goes to Petr Cech for this recruit, as he was the one who scouted out Mendy and suggested him to Frank Lampard. Mendy had a fantastic maiden UCL season, keeping nine clean sheets in 12 appearances. He only conceded three times during the campaign, once against Madrid, once against Porto and once against his former side. Mendy went from being clubless in 2015 to becoming a Champions League winner in 2021, and he absolutely deserved his award. He was fundamental to Chelsea’s European success.

N’Golo Kante (Champions League Midfielder of the Year)

Beating out the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Jorginho to win the ‘Best Midfielder of the Year’ award is no small task. However, when you’re N’Golo Kante, you can take on any opposition and still come out on top. The French steam engine—known for his fantastic stamina, pace and interception skills—was the one to change Chelsea’s fortunes in the Champions League. This came after he put in four-Man of the Match performances in the knockout stages, including the final three matches.

The former World Cup winner was absolutely dominant, he was the hurdle for all the opposition midfielders. To get past Kante was a huge task and even after getting past him, he was often there to intercept the following pass. Kante is known for his ability to outrun and intercept opposing passes and his awareness is probably the best in the game. He always knows what is going on and chooses to make his next move accordingly. That is why Kante is not just a fantastic defensive player, but a decent offensive player, as well. The decorated midfielder made some brilliant runs throughout the tournament, which split open defenses as his pace was too much for the opposition to handle. Although he did not score in the competition, his runs against Real Madrid and Man City were amazing, and he should have gotten on the score sheet against Los Blancos.

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