Mount shows he can help Lamps shine
FRANK LAMPARD says Chelsea will have to raise their game at Old Trafford next Sunday after a draw at Borussia Monchengladbach but was full of praise for Mason Mount, who capped a fine pre-season with an excellent performance.
Chelsea looked horribly exposed in midfield in the first half as the home side ran up a 2-0 lead, yet they recovered with a much better secondhalf performance which saw two penalties, scored by Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley, secure the 2-2 draw.
It was Mount’s quick feet and agile change of direction that fooled Keanan Bennetts to win the later penalty in the 85th minute, which Barkley stuck in off the post.
And the 20-year-old, who played under Lampard on loan at Derby last season, is now pressing his claims to start against Manchester United following an afternoon of intelligent pressing, incisive passing and close control.
‘He has done a lot,’ said Lampard. ‘ I’m really happy with how he’s training, how he’s playing and his status in the group coming back here. The players recognise quality instantly but they also recognise work rate and character — and Mason has all of those.
‘He has given me a problem. Ross Barkley also had a good pre-season and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be back later on. It’s good, as they’re all adaptable. It doesn’t have to be just one. They can play in a variety of positions. I couldn’t ask for more from what Mason has done.’
N’Golo Kante played his first minutes since the Europa League final, having flown home for more treatment on his knee injury during the tour of Japan and he played 17 minutes here.
‘N’Golo is working a little bit more now [after the game] and it was just to give him the feeling of match time, as it has been awkward with his injury,’ said Lampard. ‘I wanted him to feel it and us to see it.
‘Who knows if he can be fit for next weekend or not? We’ll work hard for that. But we have to be a bit careful as he has played so many games over the last three seasons. We don’t want to rush him.’
Lampard says he pretty much knows his starting line-up for next Sunday’s Premier League opener but will keep an open mind this week as he finalises preparation for his Premier League managerial debut. ‘It’s a long week and players have to train every day to get themselves in the team. Or get themselves out of the team! The door isn’t shut. It has been a good pre-season. We’ve done some hard work and had some good results.
‘ And when you’re new as a manager you have to try to get your ideas across as quickly as possible. The team will have a certain way they’re used to playing, and mine and the staff’s job this last month has been to get out message across. And we’ve done that.
‘I have a good feeling after today’s game. I didn’t like the first half but the second half, with the chances we created, we should have won comfortably. It was a nice way to finish pre-season but we must stay focused as United in the Premier League is a different animal.’