Pat Nevin says new Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has unlocked “special” chemistry between Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The pair caused a lot of trouble for Burnley as Chelsea cruised to a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
They clearly didn’t look like they were playing together in new roles for the first time under a new manager.
Even Nevin admitted that he was surprised by how good the link-up between Mount and Hudson-Odoi was.
“[Mount’s] understanding with Callum that has been the most exciting innovation,” the former Blues winger told Chelsea’s official website.
“It is really only in these last couple of outings when they have been playing close together in that area of the field that I have realised just how special that understanding could become.
“Time and again they linked and moved for each other with an almost telepathic understanding, so why hasn’t it been quite as obvious before?”
Nevin also praised Tuchel who came up the idea and believes the manager will be “pleasantly surprised with the quality he has at his disposal” as time goes by.
“I think most people agree there is a fine team in there somewhere bursting to get out, the manager just has to get the right chemistry,” he added.
“The pairing of Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi has already hinted at [Tuchel’s] alchemy skills.”
Chronicle view
With Mount often playing as a left of the midfield three and Hudson-Odoi on the right flank under Frank Lampard, we don’t often see them on the same side of the pitch together.
Tuchel probably decided to deploy Mount on the right to accommodate Werner who prefers playing on the left, but he still showed faith in the midfielder’s versatility and it paid off.
Of course, we all remember that beautiful assist from Mount for Hudson-Odoi in the 2-1 over Rennes in November.
But watching them on the same side of the pitch, with that “special understanding” as described by Nevin, was a completely different experience.
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