When Thomas Tuchel took over at Stamford Bridge on January 26th, 2021, Blues’ supporters were excited about the club’s future. In just a few months, the German has taken Chelsea back to the pinnacle of domestic cup competitions in both England and Europe. While the collective effort embodies Tuchel’s all-action approach, Mason Mount has been at the heart of the Blues’ revival under the 47-year-old coach. The 22-year-old has been central to the London club’s revival, and such improvements will only enhance England’s chances of success at the upcoming European Championships. So, let’s delve into Mount’s recent on-field growth.
Elevating the Creative Midfielder’s Level
Gareth Southgate handed Mount his international debut back in September 2019. The midfielder came on for 23 minutes in a four-goal victory over Bulgaria in the EURO Qualifiers in Group A. Since then, he’s only failed to feature in one of the next 16 games with the national side. In that time, Mount has scored four goals and assisted a further two for the Three Lions. Because of that, he’ll likely be in the squad for the summer competition, which England are currently 9/2 to win in EURO 2020 betting at Paddy Power, as of May 12th.
Aside from merely being in the squad, few can argue that Mount doesn’t deserve to start for England. Under Tuchel, the Portsmouth-born playmaker has taken his game to new heights, and that’s a testament to his on-field application. After working his way into the German manager’s plans, the 22-year-old scored vital goals in the Champions League against FC Porto and Real Madrid. Moreover, he also netted the match-winning goal in the Premier League against Liverpool at Anfield.
The Sky’s the Limit for Mount
At the time of writing, Mount has cemented his status as one of the first names on the team sheet at Chelsea. While Frank Lampard gave him the opportunity to prove himself in English football, the former Derby loanee is far more involved in offensive phases under Tuchel. According to Transfermarkt, Mount registered four goals and three assists in his first 15 appearances under the Blues’ German manager. By comparison, he scored nine and set up a further ten in 55 games during Lampard’s tenure.
In helping Chelsea reach the Champions League and FA Cup final, Mount has unquestionably left an impression on Tuchel. Tribal Football reports that the 47-year-old manager described the playmaker as the “complete package” and a player with “no limits”. While the Portsmouth-born midfielder looked capable of reaching a decent level under Lampard, Tuchel now appears to have unlocked a potentially world-class player, which will undoubtedly benefit England and Southgate at EURO 2020.
Will Mount be the Key for England?
The reinvented version of Mount is a level above the player that last lined up for England at the end of March against Poland. Thanks to Tuchel, the 22-year-old now takes on more responsibility, and he’s proven that he can compete with the very best in England and across Europe. While England’s midfield options are plentiful, Mount should be one of the first names on the team sheet at international level.
