Rested and re-energized Mason Mount ‘ready to go, ready to press’

Before getting the start on Wednesday night against Malmo FF in the Champions League group stages, Mason Mount had gone five (5!) matches in a row without a start for Chelsea. While he did make three substitute appearances during that time, that’s still pretty much unheard of since becoming a (key) first-team player for Chelsea at the start of Frank Lampard’s tenure in 2019.

The longest Mount had gone without a start before this period was just two games, once in each of the previous two seasons, though he’d make substitute appearances in both of those games, both of those times. Credit for that goes as much to Mount’s durability as his ability to make an impact and dictate the way Chelsea’s play goes — under both Lampard and Tuchel.

But like many in the team, he’s started to feel the effects of a crowded calendar, while dealing with a rare knock as well. Perhaps other years he would’ve been more likely to push through, but we’ve gotten a bit better as a team in not overworking players when we can help it.

Fortunately, Mount’s feeling re-energized and raring to go after this pseudo-break, and just in time with three forwards currently out with non-trivial injuries.

“Every time I step on the pitch I feel energised and ready to go, ready to press. I want to be involved in every game but I’m still young and it’s so early in my career. Sometimes you have to look at how many games you’ve played and look at taking a step back.”

Mount, who seems to be bulking up noticeably, also knows that as important as his off-the-ball is to the team’s successes, most observers will judge him purely on goals and assists. No better time than now to add a few of those then: we’ve already had 15 different goalscorers this season; let’s make it at least 16!

“Getting goals from all areas is a big thing for us, a big positive. We can be dangerous from different parts of the team. We can be dangerous from set pieces and the way we play we get people in the box and create chances.

“It’s about time I got on the scoresheet. I’m getting in the right areas but it’s just not falling for me. Hopefully when the first one goes in the floodgates will open.”

-Mason Mount; source: Mail

Then again, as long as we keep winning, it really doesn’t matter who’s scoring — as long as someone does!