Mason Mount has excelled in a more advanced role under our head coach Thomas Tuchel, with his goal involvement return benefitting massively as a result, and the attacker has spoken of how the German has helped improve his game over the past year.
Mount has stepped up in recent weeks, particularly in the absence of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, playing every single minute of our last six games, with four goals and two assists across this short period.
His tally for goals and assists combined now sits at 11 in just 16 Premier League appearances, and Mount, who turns 23 in the new year, admits he is relishing playing in a different position lately.
‘My first year or two I played in a bit of a deeper role as an eight. Now I am playing higher up as a 10-slash-winger, so that gives me more opportunities to make it into the box. They want me in the box and being a threat going forward so that is a big focus of mine.
‘I have seen that improvement in the last few games in terms of the chances I am getting now just from trying to get into the box,’ he says. ‘Having more touches in the opposition box shows it is working.’
Given he is predominantly right footed, the forward also speaks of the different qualities needed to operate on the right flank.
‘Last year, I was mainly on the left. I became very used to cutting inside on my right last season. Now there is maybe more focus on crossing and going down the line to cut balls back.’
Mason’s relationship with fellow Cobham graduate Reece James has been a key feature for the Blues this campaign, with James Chelsea’s top assister this season with six, two ahead of Mount.
‘He has been playing brilliantly,’ Mason says of Reece. ‘I know how he plays and I know how he likes to combine with someone.
'It is us on the right trying to create chances and work off each other. When he moves inside, I go on the outside, when I move inside, he stays wide. It is all about getting the best from each other,’ Mount adds.
The no.19’s goals this season have shown how versatile he can be. Right-footed strikes against West Ham and Everton in December both showcased his ability to peel off the left-back and find space to take aim, while his most recent strike against Leeds United at the Bridge was on his left foot, after directly attacking the box from the right.
‘It is a different position with different demands but I am comfortable coming inside and finishing with my weaker foot,’ Mount says. ‘I have always tried to work on being a threat with both.’
Mount also admits that being able to play with both feet is something he has practiced since he was very young, under the tutelage of his father, Tony.
‘I remember he used to tell me that so I would go in there and kick a ball against the wall 100 times with each foot without messing up,’ recalls Mount.
‘I remember being in there hour after hour just kicking that ball. I did it for years. It just helps that feeling, that touch, because you do not want it to feel any different when you are on your left foot to your right. That has definitely been a big help for me.
‘The ball comes into the box and you have no idea how it is going to fall. You cannot have thoughts in your head, like, 'It is on my left, I am not going to hit it.' You just have to take it in your stride and hit the target. That is exactly what I try to do.’
Speaking of his career so far under our Bavarian head coach, the Cobham graduate credited the boss with aiding his game tactically.
‘He has definitely improved my attacking play. I had never really played as high up as I have under him before in my career. It is about getting into the box more, being more clinical, the final pass. It is about really putting that pressure on myself to be someone who creates.'
Mason also believes the title is well within reach this season, despite a run of draws before the Aston Villa victory pushing us down the table.
‘The title has always been our goal. We want to be up there. More than ever this season, we feel like we have a big chance. We can definitely do it.
'We have the confidence. But we need to be humble and focused, too. We need to keep doing the basics well.’