MASON MOUNT and Ben Chilwell both grabbed their first Champions League goals to put Chelsea on course for a semi-final spot.
The England pair secured victory against Portuguese champions Porto with two vital away goals ahead of next week’s second leg in Seville.
Mount said: “It was about time for my goal to come, I’ve been waiting patiently.
“I was very happy with that and it puts us in a good position. But it’s only half the tie.
“I’m always working on my finishing. It’s a part of my game I can keep improving and score more goals.”
Mount also became the Blues’ youngest-ever scorer in the tournament’s knockout stage at 22 years and 87 days.
And with Chilwell, Chelsea had two English stars on target in a Champions League match for the first time since Frank Lampard and John Terry struck against Napoli in March 2012.
Provided there is no collapse next week in the ‘home tie’, then Chelsea will reach a first Champions League semi for seven years.
Asked to compare the quality of both goals and the finishing, cheeky Mount said: “I’ve got to go with mine as the better.
“Of course, he would say his one. He showed great composure. I thought he was going to shoot in front of goal but then he took it past the goalkeeper.
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“It was a very good finish from him. He will be buzzing. I am happy for him to get his first goal.”
It was just the type of response manager Thomas Tuchel had demanded after Saturday’s shock 5-2 home defeat to West Brom — and the following day’s training-ground bust-up between Antonio Rudiger and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
That shock Premier League loss to Sam Allardyce’s side was the first defeat of his reign after 14 matches unbeaten.
Mount, who has eight goals this season, added: “We put the West Brom game behind us. We said we need to improve.
“That game was something we looked at briefly the next day and then moved on.
“We came here with full focus, 100 per cent commitment that we would win and give it our everything. I felt we did that.
“The job is not done. They will fight for the next leg and we have to give it our all again. We will be ready next week.”
Tuchel praised his young creative midfielder, saying: “Mason is a very important player for our squad.
“He has the right mentality and attitude towards training. He has the right attitude towards success.
“He has both feet on the ground. He is open and hungry to learn.”
Victory also meant Tuchel became only the second Chelsea boss to win his first three Champions League knockout matches after Roberto Di Matteo in 2012.
That, of course, was the year the Londoners won Europe’s biggest crown and interestingly they beat a Portuguese side in the final eight as well.
If they prevail, then they will play either Real Madrid or Liverpool in the final four though the La Liga side have a healthy 3-1 lead from the first leg.
The German said: “I feel there is a good atmosphere in the dressing room.
“We are happy but not too happy. We are excited but not overexcited.
“After conceding last Saturday and losing such a strange game, we said that the best situation would be produce a clean sheet straightaway.
“This makes it a very precious result. I am very happy we had a lot of possession.
“It was the first response after our first loss together and I am absolutely happy with the result.
“I can understand that we feel the tension when it comes a quarter-final.
“We accept the quality of a strong Porto side, a proud and emotional side.
“We need another top performance and top mentality next Tuesday.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
