Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix reveals why he’s a huge admirer of Chelsea’s Mason Mount

Joao Felix has reserved particular reward for Mason Mount forward of Atletico Madrid’s conflict with Chelsea and revealed how Chris Willock in contrast him to the midfielder years in the past after they have been team-mates at Benfica.

The pair are getting ready to go head-to-head this night because the La Liga leaders do battle with Chelsea within the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Bucharest’s Arena Nationala.

Fans of the Premier League are by now effectively conscious of Mount’s qualities, with the 22-year-old arguably Chelsea’s participant of the season on the midway stage of the marketing campaign.

But it might come as a shock to many who Mount has a secret admirer in Felix, who had been ‘waiting’ for the Englishman to interrupt by lengthy earlier than he established himself as a first-team common at Stamford Bridge.

‘I like the way he plays, the way he likes to drag the ball, the way he touches the ball,’ the Atleti and Portugal sensation informed The Daily Mail.

‘I performed with Chris Willock in Benfica three or 4 years in the past and he informed me that Chelsea has a guy that he sees who’s much like me and he informed me it was Mason Mount.

‘A couple of years later he appeared in Chelsea and I like the way in which he performs.

‘Chris had told me about him before he appeared in the Premier League, so I was waiting to see him.’

Mount might be full of confidence heading into tonight’s match after discovering the web twice in his final three video games for the Blues in opposition to Sheffield United and Southampton.

Eyebrows have been raised when the England worldwide – one of the primary names on the staff sheet below Frank Lampard – was named on the substitutes bench for Thomas Tuchel’s opening match in cost at house to Wolves.

But Mount has rapidly received over his new supervisor and began each single Premier League match since within the Premier League.

Speaking forward of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Southampton, Joe Cole predicted Mount would go on to change into ‘one of the top players in the club’s historical past’ if he continues on the identical trajectory.

‘Mason Mount is one of life’s mysteries how individuals may criticise him for taking part in a lot,’ the previous Chelsea and England winger informed BT Sport.

‘He played so much for Frank not because he’s a good lad, which he is, however as a result of he’s a prime prime participant. 

‘Tuchel’s are available, he was out of the staff within the first recreation, Tuchel’s a intelligent man and realised this child is a correct participant. He epitomises what Chelsea’s all about. 

‘I told him off-air when things weren’t going effectively for Frank, some of the gamers weren’t standing up and pushing their chest out, his ranges stayed the identical and tried to drive the staff. 

‘That’s a huge signal of maturity and that’s why Frank gave him the captain’s armband proper on the finish.

‘He’ll go on to be one of the highest gamers in Chelsea’s historical past, he’s that good.’

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