Mason Mount has revealed why he was substituted at half-time during Chelsea's important Champions League win against AC Milan.
The 23-year-old was named in the starting XI once again for the Blues, and had made a good impression on the side during the first half.
He won a penalty for Chelsea in the opening stages of the game following Fikayo Tomori's challenge inside the box, with the Milan defender being sent off as a result.
Jorginho scored from the spot soon after to give Graham Potter's side the lead, with Mount then assisting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the second just after the half hour mark.
Advert
Despite his efforts, the England international was brought off at half-time for Conor Gallagher, with Chelsea soon seeing out the result at the San Siro.
Mount was named as the Man of the Match for the Champions League clash, with the west London side now sitting at the top of Group E.
When speaking to the official Chelsea website after the game, he revealed the reason why head coach Potter decided to bring him off for the second half.
"I got a yellow and the manager didn’t want to risk a sending off as the ref was giving out a lot of cards. That was his decision at half-time.
"I thought I played well, to be involved in the pen and the assist for the other goal. I was surprised at the end when I was given the Man of the Match, but the most important thing was that we won the game.
"It was a huge goal for us in this group to become the leaders at this moment and we’ve got two big games left. So it’s really positive and it’s looking good for us in the group."
Mount added: "I feel good. I’m enjoying it and we’re playing well and scoring goals, so that’s the most important thing.
"Hopefully next I get a goal because it’s been coming but I just haven’t finished it off yet. But I’ll take the assists, setting them up for my team-mates and I’m very happy for them today.
"The manager has spoken to me about trying to get in the box and also connecting the midfield to the strikers and being able to move and be free and get assists and then get goals.
"It’s been happening for me over the last couple of games and I want more, I want to continue doing that and hopefully that will happen in the next few games too."
Chelsea remain unbeaten under Potter since he arrived as their new head coach at the beginning of September.
They have picked up four wins and one draw in their last five matches across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and conceding just twice.
Following the other result in their group, in which Dinamo Zagreb drew against FC Salzburg, Potter's side are now just one win away from reaching the Champions League last 16.
They will return to action in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon when they face Aston Villa away from home.
Topics: Chelsea, Mason Mount, AC Milan, Champions League
Robert Calcutt