Edouard Mendy lauds ‘simply irreplaceable’ Sadio Mane

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has lauded former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and has labelled him ‘simply irreplaceable’.

Mane spent six years at Liverpool from 2016 until 2022, helping Jurgen Klopp’s side win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The 30-year-old moved to Bayern Munich in the summer and has registered 11 goals and four assists across his first 23 games for the German giants.

Mane was due to represent Senegal at the World Cup in Qatar, which gets started on Sunday, but has been forced to withdraw due to injury.

‘Sadio Mane underwent successful surgery in Innsbruck by Prof Christian Fink and Dr Andy Williams from London on Thursday evening,’ Bayern said in a statement.

‘During the operation, a tendon was reattached to the head of his right fibula.

‘The Bayern forward will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup and will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days.’

His international team-mate Mendy has now reacted to the news, telling wettbasis: ‘When I found out about Sadio’s injury, I was shocked for a few minutes.

‘He’s our best player, our leader. Without him we might be more unpredictable from a playful point of view, but still weaker. He’s simply irreplaceable.’

Senegal find themselves in Group A with the Netherlands, hosts Qatar and South American side Ecuador with their first match on Monday.

‘We (Senegal) are particularly hungry and have a lot of plans,’ Mendy added. ‘Making it to the round of 16 should be the minimum goal.

‘After that, a lot is certainly possible. At first glance, we might think that we have been relatively lucky with the draw. But it will still not be an easy task.

‘Starting against the Netherlands will not be a pleasant task at all. In my eyes, the Oranje team belongs to the extended circle of favourites.’

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