Thomas Tuchel has hailed Mason Mount for taking his career to the next level with his stunning strike in Chelsea’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Porto.
Chelsea hit back from Saturday’s 5-2 Premier League drubbing at the hands of West Brom to produce a fine, battling victory over stubborn Porto.
Mount and Ben Chilwell handed the Blues control of their last-eight battle as they scored two ‘away’ goals during a fine performance in Seville.
However, Tuchel refused to accept his side has one foot in the semi-finals ahead of Tuesday’s second leg, which also takes place in Seville and will see Chelsea as the home side.
Rather, the German coach chose to focus on Mount’s maiden Champions League goal and insisted the 22-year-old had elevated his career once again on a memorable night in Spain.
Tuchel said: “The first goal was very important for us. We had been a bit too tense, not precise enough and we had lacked a bit of rhythm.
“The finish was clinical, it was excellent from Mason. He has the quality to do this, and in a quarter-final it is a big step for him and a big, big help for the team.
“Mason has the right mentality and the right attitude towards training and games. And he has the right attitude towards success. He’s got both feet on the ground, and he’s open enough and hungry to learn.
“It’s very difficult for me to compare him to different players in different positions, and different players in the same position from different clubs. But Mason is a very important player for us. A key player for us.”
Tuchel’s praise of Mount is rendered all the more important given the German boss omitted the Chelsea academy graduate from his first starting XI with the Blues.
Mount was on the bench for that goalless draw with Wolves at Stamford Bridge in January, but has quickly won over the former Paris St Germain boss.
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