Frank Lampard hits back at critics of Mason Mount at Chelsea

Frank Lampard has hit back at Mason Mount’s critics, questioning whether people who say the Chelsea midfielder is not a top player understand what they are watching.

Mount, who has struggled with form and fitness this season, has been targeted with abuse by fans on social media amid the toughest spell of his career and could leave this summer. The 24-year-old’s contract expires at the end of next season and Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United are interested.

However, Mount is set to have a key role under Lampard after an abdominal injury. He came off the bench during Wednesday’s defeat at Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and it was unsurprising that Lampard, who had the England international on loan at Derby, defended him before Saturday afternoon’s home game against Brighton.

“I’m not going to tell anyone what opinion they should have on football but if anyone thinks Mason Mount is not already a top-level player then I’m not sure what they’re seeing, in my opinion,” Chelsea’s interim head coach said. “Form is one thing that people can debate. There’s players now that get debated about more than we were in my career. It’s partly social media.

“But from working with Mason, you can ask myself, you can ask Thomas Tuchel, you can ask Gareth Southgate, you can ask Graham Potter, it’s clear he’s a top player. He’s had his small injury problem. He felt OK in the game the other day. I think there’s a little process over the next game or two of getting Mason to where we want him to be. Fingers crossed the injury’s fine.

“But he’s a top player and a top lad. And he does have a big affiliation with the club. One thing I know about Mason, the first thing a top player should have is a real hunger to succeed and play and do well for Chelsea, and he’s had that since the first day I took him to Derby. That’s simple for me. He’s still a young player. He can go even further but he’s already a top player.”

Lampard, who is without Kalidou Koulibaly because of a hamstring injury, spoke about the importance of homegrown talent. Chelsea have sold several academy products in the past two years and more could leave this summer.

There will be a pressure to raise funds because of concerns over financial fair play and, along with Mount, there is a possibility of Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Levi Colwill leaving. Money brought in for academy players registers as pure profit in FFP terms.

Colwill is on loan at Brighton and the centre-back is attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and several other clubs. His contract expires in two years and talks over an extension have not started. Chelsea do not want to lose the 20-year-old.