Lionel Messi declaration about Chelsea star is coming true this season
The Chelsea midfielder has been the source of much debate this season, with many questioning his place in the Blues and England starting line-up.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has previously delivered his verdict on Mason Mount, amid the ongoing debate about the Chelsea midfielder’s talents.
The Blues academy graduate has come under fire from England supporters in recent months with many believing Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate should choose Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.
Grealish, who netted in Villa’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Monday night, has previously stressed that he does not believe he is in direct competition with the Chelsea midfielder.
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“I love Mason,” he said. “It’s a bit annoying actually because he probably gets a little bit of stick at times from it, but I’ve always been close with Mason, I think he’s an absolutely terrific player.
“I don’t even think we’re really fighting for the same spot to be honest.
“Like I said, I think Mason’s underrated and he deserves all the credit he gets. I think people that know about football will understand just how good he is.”
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Grealish’s admission is echoed by Barcelona superstar Messi, who has hailed Mount as an outstanding talent.
Messi was previously asked to name 15 prodigies who he believes can be the future of the game, for a Topps ‘Lionel Messi-Designed Set’ card pack.
And along with Chelsea star Mount, he named Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden.
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“Having watched him play he has the potential to be one of the best,” Messi said on Mount.
Messi’s declaration has proven to be accurate, as the Chelsea midfielder continues to impress for the Blues this season.
Mount has firmly established himself as one of Frank Lampard’s most dependable players, and started in the goalless draw against Tottenham on Sunday, a result which sees Chelsea only two points off the top of the table.
Speaking after the game, Blues boss Lampard admitted he expected Tottenham to be tough opponents, but was disappointed his side didn’t make the most of their dominance.
“It was what I was expecting,” he said in his press conference. “We watched the Man City game last week. You know the style of the manager, you know they are tough opposition and how they tend to play.
“You know the attributes of the players that they have, they have great counter-attacking players, and Son in particular. Harry Kane, the way he is playing at the minute, can pretty much do everything himself. So, yes, they are very well organised to defend. That’s the style they want to play and it is the manager’s prerogative, of course.
“I expected we would have a lot of possession and dominate territorially for a while, which we did. I just wanted us to really put them under pressure and play wide which we did to sustain pressure for periods of the game.
“At points we had to be clinical and today we probably the one thing was we weren’t that clinical in that situation. So, I think the game did go how I expected and I am pleased we didn’t give them a sniffy on the counter but I am disappointed we didn’t take one of our chances.”
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