Southampton 0-6 Chelsea: Four lessons learnt as Mount, Werner thrive

4. Mason Mount is Chelsea’s talisman

This was a Mount masterclass in every possible way. After receiving a heavy load of criticism after the Champions League tie against Real Madrid for his sub-par performance, Mount did what he always does by delivering a follow-up performance that could easily be considered one of his best in a Chelsea shirt. The Englishman walked off the pitch at St. Mary’s with two goals, one spectacular assist, three tackles won, an 83% pass accuracy and two total chances created. I had him ranked as the second-best player on the pitch, behind Werner, with an 8.1 out of 10 rating.

What you don’t see from Mount statistically is the impact he has on the squad as a whole, which earns him plaudits from a large portion of Chelsea fans. Whenever the Blues seem to be losing energy, or they’re in need of a big play, Mount has a way of grabbing the match by the scruff of the neck. Spectators were treated to that ability again on Saturday after two big misses that could easily have started to place doubt in the squad. Mount’s assist to Alonso opened the flood gates for a much-needed blowout and a straightforward three points for the visitors.

There is a significant amount of discord surrounding Mount at Chelsea. There is a subset of the fanbase that loves to dismiss his ability, but time and time again, he proves that he is exactly what the squad needs. He’s a true blue player, raised in Cobham, who displays captain-like abilities when the squad needs him most. This was a single-game performance for Mount, but it’s emblematic of his role on this squad in a broader context. Mount is not only one of the best players in the Premier League, he’s also Chelsea’s talisman.

What are some of the lessons you learnt in this contest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!