Graham Potter explains reason behind Mason Mount snub

Chelsea boss, Graham Potter, has explained why he didn’t include midfielder Mason Mount in the starting lineup during their Premier League match against Aston Villa on Saturday. Potter revealed that the 22-year-old is still not fully fit following a groin injury that caused him to withdraw from England’s squad during the international break.

Mount was left on the bench during the game, which saw Chelsea lose 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn. Chelsea now sits in 11th place on the Premier League table, 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

Despite Chelsea’s need for an equaliser, Potter opted to bring on N’Golo Kante, Noni Madueke, Conor Gallagher and Christian Pulisic instead of Mount in the second half. Speaking after the match, Potter explained his decision, saying: “With Mason, I just felt we were there, we were there in the game. We made some attacking subs and wanted to see how it all landed. Mason’s coming back, he only had a couple of days training.”

Potter’s decision to leave Mason Mount on the bench has led to speculation that the midfielder may be out of favour with the Chelsea boss. However, Potter insisted that Mount remains an important player for the club and will feature in future matches once he is fully fit.

The defeat to Aston Villa has put Potter under pressure once again, with reports suggesting that Chelsea is considering former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann as a potential replacement. However, Potter’s position at the club appears to be secure for now, with the board said to be supportive of him despite the recent dip in form.