MASON MOUNT is ready to kick on at Chelsea – after getting fed up of older players trying to kick him up in the air.
The England youngster learnt the hard way during his time in Holland on loan at Vitesse Arnhem and last season at Derby in the Championship that more experienced players will literally try and leave their mark on him.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, seen here in action against Burnley, says he has shown he is not weak by mixing it with experienced players who try to kick himCredit: PA:Press Association
But the midfielder is unfazed by the attentions of veteran players who he says assumed he is a “weak” 21-year-old and says he has the mental scope to deal with some tasty tackles.
In one match in England’s second tier he even got the best revenge on the player who tried to kick him up in the air – by scoring a goal!
He told the Daily Mail: “I was up against this experienced player and he obviously saw me as young and a first time player in the Championship.
“He tried to get one over on me and show he was the bigger man. It was maybe like a test to see what I was like as a player and where I was at as a person.
“Is he weak? Can he take tough tackles or little things off the ball that don’t get seen or spoken about?
“But it never fazed me at all. We carried on playing. I kept my head and knew what he was trying to do. And then I scored and that kind of finished it… I had a word with him as I ran back.
“I can’t tell you what I said to him but it was explicit! He didn’t say anything back. If it was a test then I came out on top. He knew by the end of that game that I wasn’t weak-minded.”
Mount has now established himself as a first-team regular at Blues under Frank Lampard, who managed him at Derby last term.
The midfielder is one of several youngsters who have managed to establish themselves at Stamford Bridge, along with fellow England stars Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fikayo Tomori, plus up-and-coming right-back Reece James, who signed a new contract this week.
For me, it’s about having that same attitude I have had since I was six and making sure I never lose it
Mount has made 31 appearances already this season for Chelsea, helping them to become strong contenders for a Champions League spot.
And the midfielder is just pleased to be alongside some of his fellow Chelsea academy stars as they make the breakthrough for club and country.
He added: “Me and Tammy speak a lot and when we walk out on match day we are still pinching ourselves that we are playing at Stamford Bridge in front of that huge crowd and everything.”
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard looks forward to Premier League match against Newcastle
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
