There might not have been a lot Chelsea fans will have had to shout about following their embarrassing opening day defeat to Manchester United, however one individual might have shown there is something to get excited by in the future.
Frank Lampard’s first competitive match hardly went the way he would have hoped it would as his Blues were sent back to SW6 from Old Trafford after being handed a huge reality check by the hosts (Sky Sports).
In truth, Chelsea did not have the worst of first-half performances as Tammy Abraham and Emerson Palmieri (one individual that might be able to hold his head high despite the defeat) both cannoned shots off the woodwork.
However, Kurt Zouma’s return to action in a Chelsea shirt hardly went to plan as he looked nervous from the start and conceded a penalty that Marcus Rashford managed to slot past Kepa Arrizabalaga impressively.
Cesar Azpilicueta, who perhaps can be considered extremely reliable, was at fault for Anthony Martial and Rashford’s second goal, whilst Daniel James capped a delightful debut with a goal and further embarrassed Lampard’s side.
One man, other than Emerson, that may be able to go back to Stamford Bridge this weekend with some pride regarding their display was Mason Mount.
Although his performance may have left a little to be desired at times, going to Old Trafford in his first competitive match in a Chelsea shirt was always going to be difficult, however he certainly showed a glimmer of the quality he has to offer.
According to WhoScored, he managed to make four key passes, have two shots at goal, make 38 passes with a completion rate of 81.6%. To put those figures in some context in terms of key passes made, the 19-year-old was only outdone by veteran Pedro – who managed five in total.
Read Chelsea were also of the opinion that Mount could hold his head high after his 90 minutes on the field as well, as they gave him a 6.5 rating and stated: “Certainly didn’t look out of place despite the result, and always looked to create something going forwards. A baptism of fire for the playmaker, but still a relatively positive performance.”
There’s no doubt that Chelsea need to improve sharply and put that defeat behind them rather quickly. But if Mount continues to perform as well as he did at Old Trafford, perhaps he will have a very bright campaign for Lampard’s side this season.
Chelsea fans, what did you make of Mount’s performance against Manchester United? Let us know your thoughts by sharing them below in the comments section!
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