CLIMB EVERY MOUNT AIN
Mason’s dream is to captain Three Lions
MASON MOUNT has already captained Chelsea.
Now he dreams of one country too.
The 22-year-old England star has quickly won over new Blues boss Thomas Tuchel – after being dropped for his first game in charge.
Mount says that lit a fire underneath him. And he’s been flying ever since, earning the captaincy for Sunday’s FA Cup win over Sheffield United.
But speaking ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier with San Marino, he admits he has bigger ambitions.
Mount said: “It’s obviously a massive honour to captain Chelsea. I’ve done it twice now. It’s such a surreal moment to lead your boys out.
“My goal and my dream as a youngster was to play for England. To be able to captain the team would be unbelievable.
“It’s always going to be a goal of mine. It’s such an honour. It is something that I would obviously love to do in future. “I’ve always been a leader since I was a young boy. I’m continuing to learn more and more about being a captain and a leader.
“There are so many players in this group that are big players that I can learn from.
“It’s unbelievable to be with these players and learn from them every single day while I’m away on international duty. “There are many leaders in this team. The more leaders you have, day leading his the louder the dressing-room is and everyone knows what they are doing.
“That is obviously a massive positive for us that we have so many that can do that.”
Tuchel insisted he had no doubts about making Mount captain when he was quizzed on his decision.
The Chelsea boss said: “He deserves it, leadership isn’t a question of age. He has everything you need to lead the team.”
But the pair certainly got off to a testy start when Tuchel left Mount out for his debut in the dug-out, a goalless draw with Wolves.
Mount said: “I’ve had those experiences before. I was on loan at Vitesse Arnhem at 18, 19, and the first couple of months I didn’t play hardly at all.
“I had that motivation and that fire to want to get into that team. The first game the manager went for a more experienced team.
“I understood that and wanted to get back into the team, so that motivation and that fire that I have inside me came out and I really tried to push.”
Since then, Mount has been indispensible, scoring three of his six goals this season and often running the show.
But the midfielder is becoming just as important to England and was the only player to start all three games when the squad last met up in November.
Mount added: “Every camp you grow in confidence. Coming to England, I’m feeling confident and as a group we know what we can achieve.
“We want to start these qualifiers well and take it seriously. We want to win trophies.”