Not in a managerial sense, obviously, but Tammy Abraham has likened his Chelsea teammate Mason Mount to legendary Blues midfielder Frank Lampard.
Both players have enjoyed breakthrough seasons at Stamford Bridge under the new boss, regularly featuring in the Premier League this term and helping their side into the top four prior to football's restart.
Good to be back! pic.twitter.com/ycOyYCFrQy
— Mason Mount (@masonmount_10) June 3, 2020
Mount played under Lampard last season at Derby County, bagging an impressive 11 goals from midfield to prompt him earning a prominent slot in the west Londoners' side. He's grabbed another six this season, but despite being just 21 years old, Abraham has had no qualms with making an almighty comparison so soon into his Chelsea career.
"When we were growing up, him [Lampard] and John Terry were massive for us over in the academy," the striker told Chelsea's 5th Stand app.
“Lampard was always a leader, he always wanted to train the best, be the best. You could see that in his character. I see similarities in Mason Mount, you know.
“You can see that he has obviously studied the way the gaffer played and that’s huge; because he knows about scoring, he knows about defending, he knows about passing. He knows about everything, so it’s nice to have a manager with that experience."
High praise indeed, but there is no doubting that Lampard's philosophy of fielding youth this season has been a surprising success. Many expected his debut season as a top flight manager to be a transitional one, but while that has been the case, they've exceeded expectations by finding themselves in fourth place.
Mount has some way to matching his boss' three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two Community Shields, the Champions League and Europa League crown, though, but he's certainly on the right path, earning his first senior England call up in September last year.
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Source : 90min