Manchester City’s Phil Foden has called Chelsea star Mason Mount a “top player” ahead of Saturday night’s Champions League final.
The duo are rivals in terms of being English attacking midfielders at elite clubs, but there is certainly a mutual respect between the pair.
Mount, 22, won Chelsea’s player of the year award after a brilliant individual season and would love to finish it off with a Champions League medal.
The £88,000-a-week playmaker is now such a part of Thomas Tuchel’s XI. He’s scored nine goals and supplied eight assists in 53 games across all competition this season.
Foden has praised his Chelsea counterpart ahead of tonight.
“Top player. Really difficult [to play against],” Foden said.
“He’s always finding the right spaces. His range of passing is top as well so he’s going to be a great player and he’s still developing.
“‘I don’t understand that [the criticism that has been aimed at Mount], I don’t understand it. Every game I’ve seen him play, he’s played really well so I just don’t understand it.”
Foden v Mount is so crucial in Champions League final
For Foden, he’s grown into a superstar this season at the Etihad Stadium after a couple of years integrating into the Manchester City first team.
The 21-year-old attacker is David Silva-esque with his style and a potential match-winner.
Meanwhile, Mount is the go-to player in the Chelsea ranks. He’s developing into the complete player that is strong in most areas.
Foden and Mount are due to meet up in the England squad after the European final, and there will be very different moods.
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