Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has explained why he relies a lot on Mason Mount but also admitted that he has his worries over the midfielder’s workload.
The 22-year-old has played a lot of football in the last few years.
Last season, he featured in 54 games in all competitions for Chelsea — 65 including appearances for England.
To put it into perspective, he played more minutes (2892) than even Edouard Mendy (2746) in the Premier League last season.
Last week, Tuchel gave him, perhaps, a much-needed rest in the win over Aston Villa following the international break.
But from his statement, it seems that Mount is still going to be involved in a lot of Chelsea games this season as well.
“We were very careful with him in pre-season, he did not start the game against Villarreal, and then he started against Crystal Palace straight away,” the Chelsea manager told the club’s official website about Mount’s workload.
“Sometimes we are a bit worried, but on the other side, he seems to deal so [well] with all the minutes and all the load that he has.
“It’s sometimes very hard to leave him out because he looks fresh, he comes with a smile.
“I would be more concerned if his face was straight and you feel some fatigue also mentally, but I don’t feel it.
“We are happy that he’s here, and we will be careful like always with him.”
“I would be more concerned if his face was straight and you feel some fatigue also mentally, but I don’t feel it.
“We are happy that he’s here, and we will be careful like always with him.”
Mount is obviously not the only outfield Chelsea player whose workload needs to be monitored this season.
Antonio Rudiger and Romelu Lukaku, for example, are virtually Tuchel’s “untouchables” in left centre-back and striker position, respectively.
You could even argue that, unlike Mount, Tuchel does not really have many other options in those two positions.
Mount, however, is a very interesting player in terms of his style of play.
Among Chelsea attacking options, he is arguably the only player Tuchel can really rely on defensively.
It makes the England international a very important piece in Tuchel’s tactical game plans, particularly against top sides, where Chelsea would often need his work rate to support the midfield two.
