Phil Foden has described Mason Mount as a ‘top player’ ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League final against Chelsea and insists he ‘doesn’t understand’ his England teammate’s critics.
Mount has impressed at Stamford Bridge this season to help Chelsea secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and reach the finals of the Champions League and FA Cup.
While Thomas Tuchel’s side lost 1-0 to Leicester City in the recent FA Cup final, they could still finish the campaign in style by winning the Champions League for a second time.
Premier League champions Manchester City stand in their way, however, and Foden will be hoping to win his ninth major trophy at the Etihad in the showpiece in Porto on Saturday night.
Foden expects a tough match against Chelsea, though, and singled out ‘top player’ Mount for special praise ahead of the final.
‘Top player, he’s a top player,’ Foden told FIVE when asked about Mount. ‘He’s really difficult to play against.
‘He’s always finding the right spaces. His range of passing is top as well so he’s going to be a great player and he’s still developing.
‘I don’t understand that [the criticism that has been aimed at Mount, I don’t understand it! Every game I’ve seen him play, he’s played really well so I just don’t understand it.
‘As players though you always get negativity so you’ve just got to keep performing. The manager must know he’s playing well because he’s always playing well.’
Manchester City are the favourites to win the Champions League final but former England star Joe Cole expects Chelsea to overcome the Premier League champions and lift the trophy.
‘I’m going to go with 1-1 at full-time,’ he told JOE. ‘2-1 Chelsea in extra time.
‘In the last moments of extra time, Chelsea on the break, Manchester City have dominated possession, Timo Werner goes and sticks it in.’
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