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Mason Mount backed as next Chelsea FC captain after match-winning turn against Liverpool at Anfield
Mason Mount celebrates his winning goal for Chelsea at Liverpool
(Getty Images)Chelsea match-winner Mason Mount has the attributes necessary to compete for the Stamford Bridge captaincy as soon as next season, according to Ashley Cole.
Mount produced another star turn on Thursday night, netting a stylish winning goal as the Blues continued their impressive unbeaten start under Thomas Tuchel and returned to the Premier League top four with a 1-0 win over free-falling champions Liverpool at Anfield.
The England midfielder has already become an important figure under the new manager after initial speculation that Tuchel likely would not see him as being nearly as instrumental as predecessor Frank Lampard, who drew criticism for his seemingly unwavering faith in Mount.
And according to Blues legend Cole, despite being just 22, the academy graduate - whom he rates as the club’s best player - should be in the mix fo the Chelsea captaincy sooner rather than later.
Seasoned defender Cesar Azpilicueta, 31, has held the armband since Gary Cahill’s exit in 2019 and is under contract in west London until 2022.
“You know what he’s going to do but it’s tough to stop at times. Great finish,” Cole said on Sky Sports.
“This is what Mason brings you - willingness and determination to run beyond players. Next season he is definitely pushing for the captaincy.
“I’ve been with him at Derby, I’ve seen him at Chelsea, the dedication, the hard work, the graft he puts in, not just in the training sessions but after.
“For me [he’s the] best player at Chelsea and the first name on the team sheet.”
That view was shared by fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp, who described Mount as the “ultimate modern day player”.
“He can play in a two in midfield, he can player as a number 10, he can play wide left, wide right,” Redknapp said. “He has that much quality you could play him, the way the modern game is, as a false nine if you had to.
“He starts the press, his touch, he’s got finesse. I think he’s got everything to be the next Chelsea captain.”
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