Chelsea have announced the squad numbers for the 2021/22 season and some fans were surprised that Mason Mount did not get the number 8 shirt ahead of Mateo Kovacic.
Given the comparisons with Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, it is easy to see why some fans expected Mount to be the club’s new number eight at some point.
Not to mention, he also wore the number eight shirt when he was on loan at Derby County under Lampard himself.
When it finally became available, however, Kovacic has now taken over the iconic number from Ross Barkley, while Mount keeps his number 19 shirt.
While the decision surprised quite a lot of fans, Mount himself has already hinted that he never really wanted the number 8 shirt in the first place.
“It’s my first number at Vitesse. I chose it, because my birthday is on 10 [January] and I couldn’t get the number 10,” the England international told Chelsea TV earlier this year.
“So I got 19, because nine plus one is 10 [laugh].
“When I got to Chelsea, all the good numbers were taken, so I got 19 again.”
Chronicle view
Based on his admission, it seems that Mount actually prefers number 10.
He could have got it last summer after Willian’s departure, but Christian Pulisic deservedly earned it for his spectacular performances during the post-lockdown period.
Compared to Mount, Kovacic seems to be more fond of the number eight shirt, considering he also wears that number for the Croatian national team.
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