Ruud Gullit gushed over Mason Mount’s consistent improvement and was so pleased to see the midfielder getting his chance at Chelsea.
Writing in his BBC Sport column, Gullit was handing out praise for two of England’s most exciting pupils, Mount and Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
The young pair have earned praise from across the board for their performances this season.
They will go face-to-face this Saturday, as Chelsea and City battle it out for the Champions League crown.
Mount in the making
Putting their club rivalry aside, Gullit threw Mount and Foden together as prime examples of how far talented individuals can go if they are nurtured correctly.
Chelsea’s former manager highlighted City’s decision not to let Foden leave on loan, alongside Mount overcoming his ‘teachers’ pet’ mantel.
He said: “Mount came through a difficult situation too, because everyone called him ‘the son of Lampard’ when he first came through, and the Chelsea fans were not all with him – they thought he was just the manager’s favourite.
“But Mount has showed how good he is under the new coach too. We’ve seen that Tuchel needs him, and that Lampard was right – he is better than most people thought.
“He ended up being voted Chelsea’s player of the year by their fans and I’m so pleased his talent is being recognised now. This is just the start for him too.”
Best of Barcelona
Despite being the nation’s golden boys and pioneers for England’s platinum generation of players, Gullit believed the duo could have easily descended from foreign soil.
“Foden could have been a Barcelona player, like (Lionel) Messi, Andres Iniesta or Xavi, and he is not a typical English player. Mount is the same.”
Gullit did make it clear he was not directly comparing Mount or Foden to the La Liga legends, but did put them in the same bracket because of their playing style.
La Masia- Barcelona’s famed academy- brewed names like Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi in the art of elegant football, close control, and intelligence.
England has not always been credited with producing this footballing model.
Mount and Foden have now broken that mould, doing so at such a young age as well.
Their futures are startlingly bright. It would take a serious shadow to put out their flame.
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