The Curious Case of Mason Mount – Cobham’s Newest Leader

This title isn’t meant as a form of cheap clickbait. Nor is it meant to attract the many staunch critics of the player – unfortunately and unfairly, a healthy majority claim to be Chelsea supporters. This is a piece on one of Chelsea Football Club’s most underrated, divisive, and crucial players – Mason Tony Mount. There is an elephant in the room here, Mason Mount is Frank Lampard’s heir apparent at Chelsea, right? I don’t think so, and I’ll tell you why.

I’m going to be approaching Mount’s influence at Chelsea from both a theoretical perspective insofar as to how he helped carve Chelsea’s new ethos with a case to be made that he embodies the New Guard, with the perfect role model in César Azpilicueta to learn from. Furthermore, from a tactical and player profile perspective under head coach Thomas Tuchel in two parts. 

Mason Mount joined Chelsea’s academy aged six from Portsmouth. Mount, a young boy who loved the beautiful game – a game that holds no prisoners, joined the notorious club that spares no youngster their blushes. Mount developed at Chelsea, bringing home hoards of Youth team silverware both domestic and continental. Mount ended his youth career by being named Chelsea Young Player of the Year and captaining both his England side and Chelsea to silverware. 

Fast forward to 2018, a season that would change Mount and Chelsea’s trajectory forever. Frank Lampard took over at Derby County, taking Mount on loan from Chelsea. The easy comparison was there, Mount was to Lampard as Lampard was to José Mourinho – he is the heartbeat of his squad, the tempo setter in training, the laser-focused goal-scoring midfielder, the winner at all costs.