Pressure is Mounting on Potter to define a true starring role for Mason
IT’S never been easy to pigeonhole Mason Mount.
Perhaps that’s his problem. What is he, exactly? Where does he excel? What does he bring to the table?
He can play. Of course, he can. A Champions League medal and 32 England caps at the age of 23 prove there is an ability to perform at the highest level. But where does he fit in?
Like life, football never stands still. It waits for no one. The only constant is change.
And at Chelsea the deal is clear: perform or else it will be changed. Quickly.
Just lately, Mount has been coming under the spotlight. Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s decision to create noise at Stamford Bridge is asking questions of the old guard.
And the central attacking midfielder/No. 10/midfielder is under scrutiny.
Already the rumour mill is ticking over. AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is on the radar. RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku has agreed a deal to join next summer. Quite how this affects Mount is anyone’s guess. One is a winger, the other a striker.
But that’s the problem when you don’t have a defined role – you’re always under pressure. And, with his international place under similar threat, Mount chose his moment well at Stamford Bridge.
New boss Graham Potter is trying an assortment of players in different formations – an attempt to garner information while still working out what it is that he has to work with.
As if to prove a point, Mount was deployed just off striker Kai Havertz, charged with flitting in and around the German international.
In the end, it worked out fine and the academy graduate got it just right. The Blues had been
scratching around for an opening goal against opponents who are down on their luck.
Mount had been busy without convincing in his role.
Christian Pulisic, in particular, could have helped out by netting one of umpteen first-half chances that fell his way.
In the end, it was a lovely right-wing cross that surprisingly found Wolves’ Nelson Semedo protecting his back post with two blue shirts at his back. Havertz headed into the net – not with much conviction – and Mount’s assists tally increased by one. It was about time.
One other assist in his previous nine games was being used as a stick by his detractors.
Nine minutes later, however, came a glimpse as to why Mount remains a valuable asset.
Pulisic made tracks down the left, but needed support. He found it in Mount, who swivelled and delivered a lovely reverse ball into the feet of the American, who had set off on a run and whose finish defeated Jose Sa comfortably.
It was a reminder, too, to England boss Gareth Southgate, himself coming under fire for persevering with certain players when form dictates he should be offering a chance to others.
There are signs Southgate is cooling on Mount. He didn’t start in either of the last Nations League games – but provided a reminder with an equaliser in the 3-3 draw with Germany.
But Mount should have enough in the bank to retain the faith of the national team boss. Potter decided Mount’s work was done in the 72nd minute and his replacement,
Armando Broja (left), fired a late third into the bottom right-hand corner, which was his first goal for Chelsea.
The Blues boss had made seven changes, putting Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Reece James on the bench. Those names speak for themselves and the public know what they do.
Mount’s problem is that his doesn’t. When it does, perhaps then he will be pigeonholed as a talent his club – and country – cannot do without.