Mason Mount was the former academy player at Chelsea with the extreme talent and potential. Then there was a complete halt in the negotiations on an extension in 2023. Manchester United took advantage of the opportunity to sign for a solid £55 million. Under ten Hag, it was anything but a breakthrough. Injuries, lack of match fitness, confidence from Ten Hag and the Dutchman’s football held Mount back. In November, the “rules” were changed and the investment in Mount was saved.
Ten Hag disappeared, in came Ruben Amorim with a football that opens up for a Mason Mount outside the shadow of Bruno Fernandes. We saw it in the first meeting between Mount and Amorim at Carrington, when the two guys threw themselves into a really good hug with wide smiles.
Before Ruben Amorim had managed his first Manchester United game, he had the conclusion ready: “… I have to tell you that I ‘love’ that boy (Masom Mount),” the Portuguese said in his first interview with United’s official website.
Within half an hour in the Czech Republic, it was easy to see why. The Red Devils were heading for a third straight defeat after Andre Onana’s latest blunder against Viktoria Plzen, until Mount came on the pitch and helped change the game. Rasmus Hojlund naturally grabbed the headlines when he scored United to a first away win under Amorim and a first away win in Europe in almost two years, but Mount was just as crucial to the turnaround. More importantly, he showed that he is ready to revive his career – and perhaps also United’s season.
A goal would have done a lot for his confidence, but the positive thing was that Mount got into those positions and made United much more dynamic and unpredictable going forward as a result. It also pointed to a future where Højlund and Mount can start together.
Mason Mount could be Manchester United’s and Amorim’s game-changer.
