Being Mason Mount’s dad must be annoying, knowing just how brilliant your son is, but listening as football fans fail to see it.
But while the Chelsea midfielder has had doubters, his father Tony’s belief has never wavered – and this season we can all agree on Mount’s class.
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Despite a number of big-money signings in his position over the summer, the academy graduate has been Chelsea’s standout performer during the 2020/21 campaign.
“He saw the players coming in as a massive challenge,” Mount’s father Tony told talkSPORT. “People were saying he would lose his place and he was aware of that.
“Mason’s attitude was brilliant. He thought Chelsea were bringing quality into the club and he’s desperate to win things.
“He didn’t look at that as anything other than good for the club, good for the team, and a challenge for him.
“I remember talking to him about it and he said, ‘They won’t take my place, I’ll raise my game’.”
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Mount’s relentless energy, intensity and quality have risen to new levels, and unlike new boys Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, the 22-year-old didn’t cost Chelsea a penny.
Arriving at the club aged six, back in 2005, his father reveals how Mount developed his deeply competitive attitude alongside a fire that has always burned within.
“He’s always had it, he’s always had that desire within him,” Tony said. “He’s always wanted to be there, he’s always wanted to train.
“It’s meant the world to him to be given the opportunity and it’s always been in him, whether it’s winning a game, or being the best in training, or winning a league. He has massive desire.”
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It’s an attitude which has seen many tip Mount to captain Chelsea in the future – and the honour would certainly not be lost on the Englishman.
“He has got that in him,” Tony continued. “For him to be made captain by Frank Lampard for the Luton game was a massive honour. He just cherished it.
“That’s bred in him from a competitive point of view and the way he was brought up. He’s a Portsmouth boy, his grandad was a boxer and went to every game.
“I took him with me to non-league football, so he’s seen the other side of it and can look after himself.”
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Nonetheless, some Chelsea fans weren’t convinced last season when Mount’s name featured on almost every single team sheet under Lampard.
If you judged Mount as an attacking player purely on stats, seven goals and five assists in 37 games isn’t overly impressive, but watching him play paints a different picture.
Even still, many pointed towards Mount’s relationship with Lampard, who coached the midfielder during his time as Derby manager, to explain why he kept getting picked.
They’ll be left with little explanation now that Mount has already established himself as first name on the team sheet under new manager Thomas Tuchel.
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“I’ve always thought that was a load of rubbish,” Tony added. “You’re telling me Lampard picked a player 80 times because he likes him and he’s a nice lad? He’s there to win football matches.
“He had a trust and a relationship, Frank knew what he was about. That was the foundation at Derby and it carried on at Chelsea.
“Tuchel is building a relationship with him now and Mason really likes him, he thinks he’s going to add something to his game and make him a better player, just like Frank.”
He added: “We had loads of options when he came back from Vitesse, but he told me he wanted to sign for Derby so he could learn from one of the best Premier League midfield players ever, and that’s what he did – on and off the pitch.
“Mason wouldn’t be where he is now without the input of Frank.
“Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Henk Fraser at Vitesse – they can’t all be wrong, can they?”
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Mount’s mental toughness means he is totally unfazed by the criticism, anyway, and barely bothers to read it.
His father recalls being sat in the stands at Stamford Bridge with a young Mount when Chelsea fans turned on legendary striker Didier Drogba, highlighting how sometimes it’s just not worth paying attention to the noise.
“I remember sitting in the stands with Mason when he was nine or ten and the fans were slaughtering Drogba, I couldn’t believe it!” Tony added.
“Some fans want instant success, there are Chelsea fans that absolutely love the fact the academy boys are homegrown talents.
“There are other Chelsea fans who don’t. They want Chelsea to go out and buy £100m players. That’s part of it.
“Mason played five different positions last season, he was the go-to man for Frank.
“I think the criticism that leads to abuse is totally unacceptable, but fortunately Mason is mentally strong and doesn’t even read it.”
Like Tuchel and Lampard, England manager Southgate is also a known-admirer of Mount and, if he can avoid injury, it’s almost certain the Chelsea star will be on the plane for the Euros this summer.
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He makes up a serious hotbed of talent in the attacking midfield position, fighting the likes of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and James Maddison to be England’s playmaker.
While Tony believes his son has the edge, he reveals Mount often talks about playing alongside the other creative stars and there is no ill feeling between any of them – quite the opposite.
“I think they’re all different, they all offer different things,” Tony said. “I think Mason is probably more flexible than some.
“He relishes it, he wants to play with Jack Grealish and Phil Foden and Rice and Maddison. They all get on really well.”
Catch the full interview with Tony Mount this Saturday on GameDay at 11am and tune in for full live commentary of Leeds vs Chelsea at 12.30pm!
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