His boss Frank Lampard, in the aftermath of Boxing Day’s 3-1 defeat, highlighted that the basics from his team were not right in a lethargic first half. We cannot afford a repeat tomorrow when Aston Villa are in town.‘We are big players so we can get together and really bounce back after that performance,’ says Mount who was part of the side defeated at the Emirates.‘It is probably better we have that quick turnaround because now we look at another game. The Arsenal one is gone, there are still big things we need to work on but now we have that one day before our next game and we can put it in the back of our heads and really go into Villa with a strong mindset, starting the game very well and hopefully doing well in the game.’

Reflecting on Saturday evening’s defeat in north London, Mount is clear what has to be done.‘It is something where we need to look at ourselves as players,’ he says. ‘We didn’t start the game anywhere near what we should be. We are representing Chelsea, we’re a big club and we really need to look at ourselves as players and say that was not good enough. We know that, it is a big London derby and we need to start the game way better than we did.‘We have to be harsh on ourselves. We can’t start a game like that and expect not to be 2-0 down at half-time. It is a tough lesson and we need to learn that and we need to do better the next time.’A Mount free-kick that clipped a post was Chelsea’s best moment in the first half. The performance improved after half-time but the result did not, although one of Mount’s fellow Academy graduates did stand out after he was introduced. It was Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross that led to Tammy Abraham scoring the Chelsea goal. Lampard has already confirmed the winger will play the next game. ‘We all know what Callum can do and he came on and brought that spark,’ says Mount. ‘He’s very good one on one and we just have to get him the ball going one on one and try to create chances. He did very well when he came on and that is something he can take away from the game.

‘It was all about our reaction in the second half, turning around a poor first-half performance and doing the best we can to do anything in the game.‘At 2-0 down at half-time, especially against a team like this, it is difficult to get back in it so we just had to come out and work hard and run and tackle. I thought we did that, we came close, but when you are 2-0 down and then they get a third, the game is kind of done by then.’