Thomas Tuchel says Mason Mount has the kind
of natural ability in front of goal which ‘you cannot learn’ and believes the
midfielder has the potential to produce double figures season after season for
Chelsea.
Eyebrows were raised as Mount, one of the first names on the
teamsheet under Frank Lampard, started on the bench for Tuchel’s opening match
in charge versus Wolves but the 22-year-old has quickly won over the German
with a series of outstanding performances both domestically and in Europe.
Mount scored one of the most important goals of his career to date
on Wednesday night as he opened the scoring with a brilliant turn and finish in
the Blues’ Champions League quarter-final first leg with Porto.
The strike took Mount’s personal tally
to eight for the season in all competitions and the in-form England
international will be bursting with confidence ahead of Chelsea’s trip to
Crystal Palace this weekend.
The England midfielder has been in a rich vein of form for
both club and country
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the Selhurst Park clash,
Tuchel said Mount providing a goalscoring threat had become ‘crucial’ for the
club and challenged him to keep improving in this department year on year.
Asked whether Mount could become a 20 goal-a-season player
for Chelsea, Tuchel replied: ’20 would be huge! Then I would maybe not call him
a midfielder anymore, but a striker.
‘But he has that potential which you cannot learn. You have
the composure, you have the technique, you have the precision, you have the
feeling to score the goals or you don’t have it.
‘I think he can be the type of guy who
can produce double figures in every season.
‘He’s just in the middle of it right now and I don’t want
him to stop now. It’s crucial.’
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