Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard has jumped to the defence of Mason Mount amid criticism of the England international.
Mason Mount has not been as impressive in the current campaign as he was last season. That has led to criticism of the 24-year-old, who has been a key player for Chelsea ever since breaking into their first team set-up in the 2019/20 season.
Mason Mount will enter the final year of his current Chelsea contract in the summer, and he and the Blues have not yet reached an agreement over a new deal. He has been linked with a move away from Chelsea in the summer, with Liverpool reportedly leading the race for his signature.
Mason Mount was a firm favourite of Frank Lampard during the latter’s first stint as the Chelsea manager. Lampard is now back in the Chelsea dugout as an interim manager for the remainder of the season. And, he has now launched a passionate defence of Mount, who he insisted is a top player.
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Frank Lampard: Mason Mount is already a top player, and he can go even further
“I’m not going to tell anyone what opinion they should have on football but if anyone thinks Mason Mount is not already a top-level player then I’m not sure what they’re seeing, in my opinion,” Frank Lampard said [via 90min].
“Form is one thing that people can debate. There are players now that get debated about more than we were in my career. It’s partly social media.
“But from working with Mason, you can ask me, you can ask Thomas Tuchel, you can ask Gareth Southgate, you can ask Graham Potter, it’s clear he’s a top player. He’s had his small injury problem. He felt okay in the game the other day. I think there’s a little process over the next game or two of getting Mason to where we want him to be. Fingers crossed the injury’s fine.
“But he’s a top player and a top lad. And he does have a big affiliation with the club. One thing I know about Mason, the first thing a top player should have is a real hunger to succeed and play and do well for Chelsea, and he’s had that since the first day I took him to Derby. That’s simple for me. He’s still a young player. He can go even further but he’s already a top player.”
Mason Mount recently returned to action after recovering from an injury and will be aiming to aid Chelsea to end their 22/23 campaign on a high note.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will take on Brighton & Hove Albion in a Premier League fixture in their next game.
