Chelsea's Mendy after winning AFCON: "I don't have time to celebrate"

Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy is enjoying a big week for the Blues and says he'll have time to savor his recent cup triumphs at the conclusion of the season. 

After impressing in his country's first major prize achievement at the

Africa Cup of Nations

, Mendy has another good reason, winning the

Club World Cup

with Thomas Tuchel's club. As Senegal won the continental championship, he had four clean sheets and was voted the tournament's best shot-stopper.

However, as the London club face a crucial week on two fronts -playing against Lille in the

last 16 on Tuesday before playing Liverpool in the

final on Sunday- the 29-year-old insists he is essentially embracing each match as it comes. 

"A lot of good things have happened in the last weeks," Mendy said ahead of Chelsea's first-leg match with Lille. "I am very happy and proud of my success with the national team and Chelsea.

"I don't have time to celebrate, because we have a lot of big games in the coming weeks, so I am just focused on the next game. I will have time to celebrate at the end of the season.

"It's an important week but like I said, when you play for Chelsea you play for this kind of week, with finals and big games.

"We just [have to] focus on ourselves and what we have done well this season. We don't need to do something new, just rely on our work and our game."

Mendy, who has nine clean sheets in 21

games for Chelsea this season, was also eager to applaud his fellow teammate

Kepa Arrizabalaga

, who filled in the goal while he was away in Africa. 

"My relationship with Kepa is good since I came here, we have a good relationship on and off the pitch," he said.

"When you play for Chelsea, you have competition in every position, so you have to give your best and play at your highest level to be in the team at the weekend."

Mendy also cautioned of Lille's threat ahead of

 champs'

journey to London to, as Chelsea tries to maintain their Champions League crown.

He added:

"When it's the Champions League and this stage of the competition, there are no easy draws.

"Lille are a very good team. They've struggled a bit more this season in the league [sitting 11th in Ligue 1 after 25 games] but it's always difficult to be reigning champions.

"They will give everything to make it hard for us and get a result. It's up to us to be wary of that and play our best football."

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