Chelsea are into the knockout rounds of the Champions League after a late 2-1 win over Rennes last night.
Olivier Giroud’s stoppage time header earned all three points, at a time when a 1-1 draw was looming.
Callum Hudson-Odoi opened the scoring after a sumptuous assist from Mason Mount, and Frank Lampard was at pains to praise the England international after the game.
As per the Daily Mail, Lampard acknowledged that Mount had been criticised in recent weeks and said it needs to stop.
“With Mason there’s been talk and it’s got to go away,” said Lampard.
“I’m lucky to know him well at Derby in his breakthrough season in the Championship and he’s been outstanding with the way he works off the ball.
“I’m not going to undermine that and he has all the attributes to arrive high up the pitch and score more goals and make more assists.”
Mount has been characterised as something of a teacher’s pet at both club and international level – and it’s a perplexing criticism.
He’s a young player doing plenty of the things his managers want from him and it’s odd to see that interpreted as a bad thing in certain quarters.
Last night’s pass to Hudson-Odoi showed his quality on the ball, splitting the home defence wide open.
Gareth Southgate showed during the last international break that Mount and Jack Grealish – who had been pitted against him as a rival by some – can play together in the same side.
Mount has come back from England duty and is doing the business for his club. Lampard is right, some of the talk has been unjust.
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