Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy: Ballon D'Or snub made me a better person

won the FIFA Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup with

last season and helped

to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Goalkeeper joined Chelsea in 2021 and played a key role in Chelsea winning the Champions League but he failed to make a 30-man shortlist for Ballon d'Or and also lost the Yashin Trophy to Gianluigi Donnarumma.

"There have been some incredible moments and there have been some moments that have been more difficult,"

Mendy told Chelsea's club media.

"After the Ballon d'Or, I think that even if you try to rise above it, unconsciously you are still affected by it. But also it was something new for me.

"You learn from every challenge and I've learned how to deal with it. These are things that I've experienced that have made me a better person, even if at the time it [did] affect me.

"I've also experienced some absolutely joyous moments with AFCON and the Champions League, the [2021 UEFA] Super Cup, winning trophies. When you win them, it becomes an addiction, when you live your life in a competition you want to be in the final to win.

"I've been lucky enough to experience that at club level and with my national team who won for the first time in our history. So it's a mix of a lot of emotions but enormously positive ones that bring huge amounts of pride to my family. My reality is what every footballer dreams of.”

Mendy also has praised Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel and the club's sporting director Petr Cech.

"We have a really good relationship with the coach, he's always been clear with me, he's always clear with all the players,"

he said of Tuchel.

"He's always explaining things, trying to make sure the messages are understood. He's always looking to explain his decisions so there's a lot of transparency in what he does. That's important for the team and of course for me too.

"We can talk about everything and nothing, but when we're talking about what happens on the pitch it's always a good exchange of ideas.”

Mendy says Petr Cech had a big influence on him and played a big role in bringing him to Chelsea.

"Of course, he means a lot,"

Mendy added of Cech.

"He was a big factor in the fact I came to Chelsea.

"You have to always make them proud, last year I had the chance to train with Petr, and that year [2020-21], he hung his boots! But I had the chance to train with him and see what a great player he was.

"Talent never dies. I was lucky enough to see him evolve and get advice from him every day. What he says is very important to me, especially from a goalkeeper who won a lot at Chelsea and is a legend of goalkeeping."

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