Thomas Tuchel explains reasoning behind Mason Mount being made captain for FA Cup tie vs Sheffield United
Speaking to BBC (h/t football.london) before the game against Sheffield United, Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, explained his reasoning behind making Mason Mount captain in the FA Cup quarter-final.
The Blues fielded a massively changed side from their 2-0 UEFA Champions League win against Atletico Madrid. Only Kurt Zouma and Jorginho kept their places as Tuchel made 9 changes to his team.
And young Mason Mount was handed the captain’s armband for the decisive cup clash despite being the 4th-youngest player in the senior squad.
But the German gaffer explains it was because he wanted to keep the momentum going for Mount. The 22-year-old previously captained the team in a 4th-round win against Luton Town in the FA Cup this season.
“Our captains are not on the pitch, obviously, Azpi, Jorginho, Thiago Silva, N’Golo, so Mason was already captain in one of the FA Cup rounds, so we’ve kept the momentum going for him.”
Tuchel trusts Mount
But the lack of senior figures was not the only reason for the Chelsea youth academy product captaining the side. The former PSG boss says that the armband was deserved, not given to Mount.
“He deserves it, leadership isn’t a question of age and he has everything you need to lead the team out here in this game.”
Mount has been a regular fixture in Tuchel’s side after being left out of the starting XI in the German’s first game in charge. And being made captain of the side, albeit for one game, shows the gaffer’s trust in the midfielder.
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The Blues went on to beat the Blades by a 2-0 scoreline where Mount played the full 90 minutes. Chelsea are now in the semi-final of the competition which they last won in 2018.