“I felt”: Ex-star points out at ‘missing link’ for Chelsea in Manchester City defeat

Joe Cole feels Chelsea were missing Mason Mount in their defeat against Manchester City

Speaking to BT Sport (h/t Metro), former Chelsea winger Joe Cole believes the Blues were missing Mason Mount during their 0-1 loss to Manchester City on Saturday.

The Blues, who started the weekend at the top of the table had to shift down after the Citizens picked up a 0-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Although the difference between the two teams was only pne goal, Chelsea’s performance lacked ‘intensity and creativity’, something Cole believes Mason Mount would have provided.

Cole told BT Sport (h/t Metro):

“Chelsea have had the most difficult start to the Premier League so to be there or thereabouts is a great start. He’s [Tuchel] always brilliant when he talks, he says what he thinks and feels, he feels he got it wrong.

“I felt the link was missing, Mason Mount, he was animated and trying to drive his players. Sometimes you have a match with three or four players who are off it, and it looked like it. Chelsea will be there or thereabouts challenging because of that man [Tuchel].”

Mount was declared unavailable for selection by Tuchel in his pre-match press conference. The 22-year-old had suffered a minor injury during the Aston Villa clash and was ruled out as he failed to feature in Chelsea’s squad for the first time this season. 

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This was also the club’s first loss this season after having won 4 and drawn 1 in their last 5 games. Fortunately for the Blues, Premier League title rivals Liverpool and Manchester United also failed to pick up a victory in their respective games against Brentford and Aston Villa.

Although Mount missed the game against City, Tuchel will be hoping to have his star winger back for the UEFA Champions League game against Juventus in mid-week.