Former Chelsea coach Eddie Newton thought Mason Mount had a strand of Kevin de Bruyne’s competitive personality inside of him.
Speaking to The Athletic, Newton was talking all things Chelsea ahead of their Champions League final contest against Manchester City.
Few will know the Blues inner workings better than the 49-year-old, who played for the club across the 90s and was assistant coach in 2012 and 2015.
Newton was also part of Frank Lampard’s backroom staff, before he moved to Trabzonspor last February.
He played a major part in developing Chelsea’s loan network, as well as working closely with the academy system.
Not to mention looking after some of the stellar names that have stepped foot in Stamford Bridge.
This included De Bruyne, who joined the Blues in 2012 but was sold to Wolfsburg two years later.
Newton’s law on Chelsea talent
Now Thomas Tuchel has another talismanic midfielder to call upon in Mount, a player that reminded Newton of his Belgian predecessor.
“You know who reminds me of Kevin in their manner? Mason,” he said.
“He’s not as blunt as him, but Mason has this steely belief in himself, is a very driven young man.
“He goes about things a slightly different way. He smiles and everyone thinks he’s just a lovely kid but, trust me, that guy has an edge to him when he needs it.
“He couldn’t get to this level if he didn’t.”
Mountain of talent
Mount is a few years and a couple of levels behind De Bruyne in terms of development, but its clear he’s on the similar path to superiority.
The England international has swept up praise from pundits this season, not to mention Chelsea’s player of the year award.
His rise from making his senior Blues debut in 2019 to being one of the finest talents in world football is quite remarkable.
Kevin and Mason Go Large
It is a journey not too dissimilar to De Bruyne’s.
Like Mount, the current Manchester City maestro was allowed to leave on loan whilst still under Chelsea’s control.
He joined Werder Bremen for a season, honing his craft, before signing for Wolfsburg permanently.
City then spent £55m (BBC Sport) for his Manchester move and the rest is history.
De Bruyne and Mount’s stories will intertwine when they face each other in Saturday’s European showdown, a sight the whole footballing world cannot wait to see.
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