England ace is not the only player at Stamford Bridge to announce the new genre of technically talented players who have succeeded at Camp Nou
Mason Mount has never been so tall or strong, so he chose role models who showed he was also able to control games with technical rather than physical attributes.
“I remember running and kicking a bigger ball,” said Mount’s father, Tony. Amas in 2019.
Eventually the young Mount would have a growth spurt but would need to create a skill set at Cobham academy based on vision and experience.
The traditional English footballer was all about hard dealing and strong running but times have changed.
Now 21, Mount is one of many UK footballers who is the result of great coaching, a determined mind and smart career decisions.
But, as a child, he had to look outside Chelsea for inspiration.
“[Andres] Iniesta at Barcelona in his lead [was a player I watched], when they were playing their tiki-taka. I was always watching them on YouTube, “Mount told Goal two years ago.
“I saw the [Barcelona] games too. I think Barca and Iniesta were a big part of me growing up, looking at those as role models. “
La Masia Iniesta ‘s first promotion to Barca’ s top squad was promoted by Frank Rijkaard but went to a completely different level when Pep Guardiola took over as coach in 2008.
Mason Mount ant Fantastic 👍🏻
– Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@ cesc4official) November 24, 2020
The Catalan ushered in a new era of success at Camp Nou with an energetic football brand, based on a property that relied on smaller, skilled players that allowed the legs to make the speech for them.
And while Lionel Messi, who was shy about publicity, may have influenced the headlines for the number of goals he scored, it can be said that the Iniesta was even more reserved. so essential to the success of Blaugrana.
At Chelsea, Mount doesn’t get much time outside but it is an example of the benefits of hard work.
“I remember at a young age Mason didn’t kick the ball with his weak leg,” Mount Tony’s father told Goal in 2018. “I cleaned out the garage and put a blanket on it. We used socks of different colors and he would learn to use his weakest leg.
“It would have been very frustrating at first, but then he wanted to do it and go into the garage. Now, you see him now and he’s getting so many goals with his left foot and which he does with his right foot. “
The Premier League has become an international league with players and coaches from all over the world.
Homegrown players like Mount have a reputation and Chelsea have another reduced midfielder who was inspired by the Barcelona team in the 2000s.
Billy Gilmour, who joined the Blues from Rangers, was inspired by what he saw on his television and on YouTube.
“He always loved watching El Clasico when I was young. I enjoyed watching Iniesta and Xavi,” Gilmour told Goal in January 2020. “Iniesta was more like him. my style of play. Looking at Xavi and Iniesta, that ‘s what I wanted to focus my attention on.
Guardiola has transformed Manchester City into one of the best footballing sides England has ever seen in recent years and they travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday night for a major battle near the top of the Premier League.
It is more than a decade since he took control of Barcelona but he is now ready to take on a team of young players inspired by his work with Iniesta & Co. a few years ago.