Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount said playing under Thomas Tuchel in the last year has helped him improve offensively despite having to adapt to a more advanced role.
The 23-year-old is versatile enough to play in numerous midfield and attacking positions. However, in 2020, he admitted that he always saw himself as a number eight.
Tuchel’s 3-4-3 system does not really use a typical number eight in midfield, but rather a “double six” as the German himself described it.
As a result, Mount has mostly had to play as one of the two attackers behind the striker.
Having already been familiar with the number 10 role, it did not take long for Mount to adjust.
He has scored more goals than any of his teammates since Tuchel took over and has currently had the most goals (seven) and joint-most assists (five) at Chelsea in the league this season.
Tuchel, according to Mount, has played a huge part.
“This season over the last few I’ve probably played a little bit higher than I was used to – playing as a kind of forward 10, or sometimes a winger or a false 9,” he told Chelsea’s official website.
“So I’ve had to adapt a bit, but that gives me more opportunity to get into the box and have the opportunities to score and create.
“So far this season that’s been a big focus of mine, to improve that and to put pressure on myself to be someone who wants to go forward and step up and score goals and create assists.
“That’s definitely something that’s improved over the time he’s been here.”
Underwhelming Chelsea’s attacking line this season
Unfortunately, Mount is the only Chelsea player to reach double digits in terms of goal contributions in the league. Reece James is the closest with nine (four goals and five assists).
This is obviously a major problem for a team with a plethora of attacking talents at their disposal.
Even Mount has been uncharacteristically inconsistent in the last weeks.
The congested fixtures, which leave very little room for recovery, might be a factor, although some people would argue that Chelsea should have enough attacking options for rotation.
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