Mason Mount paid tribute to Timo Werner after scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon.
Mount scored the Blues' second goal as Thomas Tuchel’s side booked their place in the final against Liverpool next month. Palace had put up a stern defence in the first half at Wembley, but Chelsea picked up the pace in the second half to win it comfortably.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired Chelsea in front with a powerful strike from a loose ball in the 65th minute before Mount made it 2-0 with a measured finish from Werner's pass. Palace went close with headers from Cheikhou Kouyate and Joachim Anderson at set pieces but failed to test Edouard Mendy.
Tuchel emptied his bench and Chelsea finished much the stronger side, but Romelu Lukaku could not find the back of the net from Werner's cross, hitting the post from six yards out before Hakim Ziyech saw the rebound blocked. Nevertheless, it was a good performance from Chelsea, who were forced to bounce back from their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid in midweek.
Mount won the plaudits, after netting his fourth goal in his last three games, but he was quick to point out the importance of Werner. "He got me a little assist, he could have had another one and could have had a couple of goals as well," Mount told ITV.
"He's brilliant, he's done so well the last couple of games, you could see it in the second half, he had a chance and missed, then ran all the way back to the halfway line to win the ball. That shows the kind of player he is and what he brings to this team."
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Werner’s strong performance did not go unnoticed at Wembley, with ITV co-commentator Lee Dixon giving him the man of the match award. The German was a constant threat in behind the Palace defence and picked out a clever pass to lay on Mount’s goal.
Like Mount, Werner is enjoying a purple period at the moment with his assist at Wembley making it three goals and two assists from his last three matches. The 26-year-old forward now has 10 goals and three assists in 31 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions this season.
His form has seen him become established in Tuchel’s first choice front three alongside Mount and Kai Havertz. Chelsea’s £97.5million record signing Lukaku showed just why he has been marginalised in recent months after coming off the bench.
The Belgian striker, who came on for Havertz in the 77th minute, was not on the same wavelength as his team-mates. He failed to make the most of the space Chelsea were afforded by their opponents and then struck the post when Werner picked him out with a perfect low cross late on.
