The goalkeeper joined the Blues from Rennes and already has 12 clean sheets to his name, despite only arriving in late September, and is enjoying life in the Premier League.

However, he knows the responsibility that comes with representing a top club and is eager to help us improve results and return to form.

‘I wanted to be here because for me the Premier League is the best league in the world so I’m glad to be here,’ he said. ‘It was a good start but with the team it’s a difficult time. We try to keep going, to move forward and I hope the results will be good soon.

‘It’s a big responsibility because this club has won so many trophies and we want to fight to win trophies every year, so the pressure is high every year, and it’s good to be part of this team.

‘I think we have to work hard in training, to keep working, and for me we need to stay confident between us because when you’ve lost many games sometimes it’s hard. But we need to stay positive, we need to stay confident and stay focused on the next game.’

The Senegal international, who was born in France, made an impressive start to his time in this country, not conceding a goal in any of his first three Premier League appearances, and revealed that the weather and spending time with his family helped him settle here quickly.

‘Because firstly I think I play in a good team. We did well at the start and I always worked to come here, so I think my attributes are good for this league and help me to perform when I play.

‘The weather is the same for me because I played for Rennes and I was born in Le Havre, which is just next to England. So the weather is the same for me. I like this culture, that is why I came here a lot of times and I like to live here, to spend my time in London. I hope soon I can see the city better.

‘I spend my time with my family, with my wife and my two little boys, and my sister. She gives me English lessons. She’s a very good teacher, she’s helped me a lot, and her husband as well.’

Mendy also revealed which teams and players inspired him when he was a youngster dreaming of playing at the highest level, including a couple of Chelsea legends.

‘When I was a little boy I watched Chelsea, Marseille and Real Madrid. I watched a lot of the Chelsea games when Michael Essien and Didier Drogba played for this club. For me this team was the best in the history of this club.

‘Everybody knows Petr is a legend, he’s a very good goalkeeper, so I watched a lot of his games. I liked Van Der Sar as well. As for outfield players, Didier Drogba, and Gerrard as well, Michael Essien. I liked Louis Saha, when he played for Manchester United and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.’