Football News

Frank Lampard: I underestimated Mason Mount’s Chelsea impact

By Mohamed Moallim

Published: 13:37, 5 November 2019

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says Mason Mount has exceeded his expectations following a string of impressive performances.

The 20-year-old midfielder, a graduate of the Blues esteemed youth set-up, is a mainstay in their first-team having only established himself this season.

The rise and rise of Mason Mount: Five key things to know…

  • Mason Mount is a graduate of Chelsea’s venerated youth academy.
  • He would go out on loan to Vitesse and then Derby County where he worked under current boss Frank Lampard.
  • Lampard handed Mount his Chelsea debut in their 4-0 loss at Man Utd this season.
  • To date he has made 16 appearances, registering four goals and two assists.
  • Lampard has admitted the 20-year-old has exceeded his expectations.

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Before the 2019/20 campaign, Mason Mount had previously enjoyed loan spells at Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem and Derby County where he first linked-up with Lampard.

A transfer embargo meant Lampard, who succeeded Maurizio Sarri in the summer, couldn’t bring in any new signings, which has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for many of the club’s youngsters.

Mount along with Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been given ample playing time with the quartet effectively forming Lampard’s strongest lineup.

Capable of playing in a multitude of positions, Mount has scored four times and registered two assists in 16 matches, a feat which has not only impressed his manager but also exceeded his expectations.

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“I’m really proud of him, obviously his loan spell in Holland and then loan spell with me in the championship I saw first hand the quality and also his character,” he told reporters ahead of their Champions League encounter with Ajax.

“Maybe he has exceeded my expectations this season because I wanted him here for sure. I thought he’d get minutes and be good for us, I didn’t realise to quite what level he would settle and produce as he has produced. So that’s a great story, and the next story is his, it’s up to him.

“I believe in him. He has to keep working to improve all the time. He’s shown particularly in the game against Ajax, the three midfielders I thought were outstanding because of the work rate they had to put into the game to stop Ajax having control of it, and he did it.

“So you think of Mason as an attacking midfield player. He’s shown you now that he’s got both sides, hasn’t he? Hopefully he will get even better.”