Chelsea star Mason Mount admits hat-trick in 7-0 win over Norwich lifts pressure off his shoulders
Mason Mount could not stop smiling as he held the match-ball after his first Chelsea hat-trick, admitting he had put himself under pressure to score following a barren streak.
Mount had gone 25 games without a goal for club and country but he finally found the net three times as Thomas Tuchel’s men trounced woeful Norwich.
His hat-trick included a twice-taken penalty after Tim Krul moved prematurely while saving Mount’s first spot-kick.
Mason Mount scored a hat-trick as Chelsea demolished Norwich 7-0 at Stamford Bridge
Mount admitted: ‘Before the game I put pressure on myself to get on the scoresheet, then three goals come in the same game. It’s a massive moment and one I will remember.
‘I’ve been waiting a long time. I was getting in the positions to score but I just wasn’t putting it into the net and today it came off.
‘I always want to play every game but sometimes you have to take a backwards step. I feel buzzing to play.
‘For me, personally, it was a big moment — to score three at Stamford Bridge is special.”
The England international was congratulated by Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel after the game
Tuchel echoed the 22-year-old’s thoughts. ‘The hat-trick for Mason was huge, a massive moment for him. I’m very proud.
‘He put pressure on himself. Now he feels lighter, plays with more freedom. He’s played a lot of games for a young player, he’s very competitive and serious about the goals he wants to reach.’
Tuchel added: ‘We play most games with three strikers and Mason is one of them — maybe between an eight and a ten — so not an out-and-out real striker. We depend heavily on him, playing a key role in a complex game.
Mount’s hat-trick against the Canaries on Saturday was the first of his Chelsea career
After the match Mount admitted to piling on the pressure on his shoulders before each game
‘We depend on Mason and we want to because we like his style, where he comes from, we like his personality. He’s a top player and a top guy, so we’re happy for him.’
Tuchel was also pleased to see Callum Hudson-Odoi on the scoresheet, but says the young winger has to show more consistency. ‘He had a good game against Malmo, he had another good game today,’ said Tuchel.
‘There are still things to improve and work on, now it’s on him to do that.
‘As I said before the game, Hudson-Odoi needs to show that he’s able to produce performances like this consistently, and now’s the time to show that. The next opportunity to produce is on Tuesday.’
