Thomas Tuchel professed his support for out-of-form goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after he produced an erratic display in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over West Ham, insisting the Senegal international has been unlucky recently.
Mendy was rooted to his goalline from a West Ham corner when Chelsea fell behind on Saturday, Michail Antonio capitalising on a goalmouth scramble to put the Hammers ahead.
Although substitutes Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz scored a goal apiece to turn the game around, Mendy was again involved late as Maxwel Cornet had a fierce right-footed finish chalked off.
VAR advised referee Andy Madley to check the goal.
And eventually ruled that Jarrod Bowen had fouled Mendy in the build-up.
Visiting manager David Moyes labelled that decision “scandalous” and “rotten” as he accused Mendy of feigning injury, but Tuchel insisted the goalkeeper suffered after the incident.
Tuchel said post-match:
“He was in a lot of pain, and we have to see. It’s too early to comment on that.
“I think at the moment he is a bit unlucky in what he is doing.
“In training, he is fantastic, and he is generally a very calm and self-reflective guy who is aware that he lacks a little bit of luck at the moment.
“Things do not go in his favour. If he has a situation where his action isn’t 100 per cent clear, he gets punished massively.
“He is just in this moment, and it feels like it’s not so much his fault.
“I have the feeling because he tries everything, he is very calm and focused.
“We will keep on supporting him.”
Despite eventually clinching a much-needed victory, Chelsea toiled for long periods at Stamford Bridge, and Tuchel will hope the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang provides an attacking spark.
Aubameyang was in the stands at Stamford Bridge and is set to begin training with the Blues imminently.
However, Tuchel is unsure when he will be able to play after sustaining a jaw injury when burglars invaded his home.
Tuchel revealed:
“He trains tomorrow, but I cannot tell if he trains with full contact or individually.
“We’ll need to see. He has the [protective] mask, and the doctors tell me the mask is good and he feels comfortable with it.
“So he would be okay, but we need to check it.
“And we need to check it with no contact, half-contact, and then complete contact.
“We need to see how he feels about it. It’s too early to make a prediction, but he’ll be in training tomorrow morning, and we’ll see.”
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