Mason Mount has revealed how his time with Chelsea’s academy prepared him for his breakthrough with the first team this season.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the Blues’ standout stars of the 2019/20 season under Frank Lampard.
His breakthrough comes after spells out on loan at Vitesse Arnhem and Derby County – where he played under Lampard – over the past two seasons.
Mount’s performances in the Premier League and Champions League led to him making his international debut back in September, and he has since gone on to earn five more caps for England.
His development this season has coincided with the emergence of some of his fellow youth team prospects, with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Reece James also underlining their talents.
And Mount believes learning the ‘Chelsea way’ during his time with the academy has given him and his team-mates the perfect preparation for dealing with the pressures of the first team.
“For me and the younger boys who have come through the academy and are playing this season, we have had to deal with that throughout the whole academy,” Mount told Sky Sports’ Football Show.
“The Chelsea way is you have got to win games. You have to win trophies and it is very focused on winning and having that winning mentality.
“So we know what it feels like to have to win and to step up on the big stages. But obviously when you are playing for the first team there is a bit more pressure on it.
“That is something we have learnt and kind of pulled each other through at different times.
“It has been brilliant.”
