Mason Mount has revealed Graham Potter’s pep talks have helped him get back to form.
Chelsea forward Mount has yet to get himself among the goals this season which is surprising as he bagged 11 in the Premier League last term. But Mount is now getting himself back in the penalty box, creating chances and providing assists for team mates.
England star Mount provided two assists in Chelsea’s win over Wolves last weekend and also set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and won a penalty in their Champions League victory at AC Milan. That is a welcome return to form for Mount who, along with Kepa Arrizabalaga, has started every game since Potter took over last month and he is now looking to get back on the score sheet.
Mount said: “The manager has spoken to me about trying to get in the box and also connecting the midfield to the strikers and being able to move and be free and get assists and then get goals.
“It’s been happening for me over the last couple of games and I want more, I want to continue doing that and hopefully that will happen in the next few games too. I feel good. I’m enjoying it and we’re playing well and scoring goals, so that’s the most important thing.
“Hopefully next I get a goal because it’s been coming but I just haven’t finished it off yet. But I’ll take the assists, setting them up for my team-mates and I’m very happy for them.”
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Remarkably Mount was given man of the match despite being substituted at half time in the San Siro as he was on a yellow card and Potter did not want him suspended for the next game. But Chelsea’s win now leaves them favourites to qualify for the knock-out stages and, in the space of back-to-back games with AC Milan, they have gone from bottom of the Group to top.
Mount said: “I thought I played well, to be involved in the pen and the assist for the other goal. I was surprised at the end when I was given the Man of the Match, but the most important thing was that we won the game. It was a huge goal for us in this Group to become the leaders at this moment and we’ve got two big games left. So it’s really positive and it’s looking good for us in the Group.”
But Mount did offer sympathy for Milan defender Fikayo Tomori who was sent off for pulling him back in the incident which led to Chelsea’s penalty and opening goal.
Ex-Chelsea defender Tomori was hoping to push his claims to be in England’s World Cup squad but instead saw red and also endured a nightmare at Stamford Bridge last week.
Mount added: “He's obviously my mate, I’ve known Fik for a very long time and I felt for him in that situation, I was gutted for him. I don’t think it was a sending off. Was it a penalty? Maybe yes. I’m an honest player and I want to try to score a goal and he pulled me back a little bit but I feel for him for that decision. It’s a tough one.
“It was hard to see him get sent off. You still want to be playing 11 v 11 and going at it with two good teams, so it maybe ruined the game a bit. It was massive for us and we obviously wanted to win the game, which we did, but I still feel for Fik a lot.”
