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Last update: 30/06/20 23:15
Frank Lampard insists that Mason Mount is still an important part of his plans for the Stamford bridge
Frank Lampard insists he has full confidence in Mason Mount, despite having pulled out the star of England in the half-time in the Chelsea FA Cup victory in Leicester.
The Blues boss replaced Mount, Reece James and Billy Gilmour midway through the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
However, Lampard moved to throw his shoulders behind Mount, insisting that tactical change will not affect his long-term thinking.
“Mason wouldn’t have been happy to go down halfway,” said Lampard.
“But it should be a case of not being happy that evening and then coming back soon after, because he knows how much I trust him and works brilliantly every day.
“And when I say Mason, I mean Billy (Gilmour) and Reece (James) in the same breath because they show a similar attitude.
00:32 Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says he could have made more than three half-time substitutions for a 1-0 win against Leicester in the FA Cup.
“There was no problem with Mason because it was a one-off game, I had to make a decision and it didn’t affect my way of thinking for West Ham or moving forward.
“Mason played 90 minutes in both first two games after the restart, and it was a shame not to score or have an assist. So he had two great performances in a week.
“And then, with the Leicester game, Mason didn’t have a bad performance and my change choices were more focused on the players I could have brought in that performance than those who were on the field.
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July 1, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
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“I was able to make many changes in that game, so it was more about” Can I bring some energy into the team? “
“So I rely heavily on Mason, I did at Derby, at Chelsea, he has a lot to offer the team in his work ethic and in the way he can start printing in midfield.
“His quality on the ball is already of a high standard and will only improve.”
00:57 Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount says his first season in the Premier League has been a learning curve and is looking forward to playing again.
‘Must put his friendship aside’
Mount may face his friend Declan Rice when Chelsea face West Ham on Wednesday night, living in the Sky Sports Main Event, with Lampard challenging the midfielder to shine in the battle for bragging rights.
“I think it stimulates you more if you have a personal relationship with an opponent in both cases – whether you are the best friend or you don’t even like it,” added Lampard.
“I also think the result is not concrete – or you will have the best of your games in that type of circumstances, but you can also focus too much on that relationship and have a not so good game.
“They are two very good players. But there is only one thing I will ask Mason – and from my point of view it is obviously all that interests me to enter into this. Tonight send him a message, smile at him in the tunnel or whatever it is , but if and when they clash, he tried to beat him in every single battle that is possible.
“And perceiving the character of Declan Rice, I feel that both will have the same mentality about that. We will see.”
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