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Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is delighted seeing Mason Mount prove himself under his successor Thomas Tuchel.
Mount has gone on to become a central cog in the Blues machine, and Lampard, speaking for the first time since being sacked as their manager in January this year, insists there was always something special about the midfielder.
“I’m delighted. I never understood the critics. He’s evolving all the time. His performances were absolutely top draw,” he said in an exclusive Q&A hosted by the London Football Awards in aid of the Willow Foundation, who enable seriously ill young adults to experience unforgettable moments.
“He’d never played in an English league, the Championship is a tough league, but when he stepped through the door, I could see something special in him… his quality, his work ethic. I really trusted him.
“At Chelsea, there were established players in those positions. The one thing I can be happy about is being part of that story for Mason from an early age. You’re seeing him mature quite quickly.
“For me firstly, it was attitude and mentality. There was something about him when he played, it was an awareness of what was around him. I was sure it would be a difficult ride for him in the Championship.
“He’s going to carry on developing and he’s going to be a fantastic player.
“A nice feeling for me when I left Chelsea, I made Mason captain. It wasn’t a gesture, I didn’t know I was leaving at that point.
“I wanted to show Mason that his authority and standing within the group had risen. When you have players who have that care, it doesn’t matter who the manager is. As you can see, I like him a lot.”