Frank
Lampard insists he has complete faith in Mason Mount, despite hauling the
England star off at half-time in Chelsea’s FA Cup win at Leicester.
The Blues boss substituted Mount, Reece James and Billy Gilmour midway
through Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final.
However, Lampard has moved to throw his backing behind Mount, insisting that
tactical change will not affect his long-term thinking.
"Mason wouldn't have been happy to come off at half-time," said Lampard.
"But it should be a case of not being happy that evening and then getting
straight back to it afterwards, because he knows how much I trust in him and
he works brilliantly every day.
"And when I say Mason, I mean Billy (Gilmour) and Reece (James) in the same
breath because they show similar attitude.
"There was no problem with Mason because it was a one-off game, I had to
make a decision and it doesn't affect my thinking for West Ham or going
forwards.
"Mason played 90 minutes in both the first two games after the restart, and
was unfortunate not to score or have an assist. So he had two big
performances in a week.
"And then with the Leicester game Mason didn't have a bad performance and my
choices to change were more about the players I could bring into that
performance as opposed to the ones that were on the pitch.
"I could make a lot of changes in that game, so it was more about, 'Can I
bring some energy into the team?'
"So I rely on Mason a lot, I did at Derby, I do at Chelsea, he brings so
much to the team in his work ethic and the way he can start the press in
midfield.
"His quality on the ball is already at a high level and it's only going to
get better."
'He has to put his friendship to one side'
Mount could come face to face with friend Declan Rice when Chelsea take on
West Ham on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports Main Event, with Lampard
challenging the midfielder to shine in the battle for bragging rights.
"I think it spurs you on more if you have a personal relationship with an
opponent either way - whether you are best friends or you don't even like
each other," Lampard added.
"I also think the result of that is not concrete either - you will either
have your best of games in that sort of circumstance but you can also become
overly focused on that relationship and have a not so good game.
"They are two very good players. But there is only one thing I will ask of
Mason - and from my point of view that is obviously all I care about going
into this one. He texts him tonight, he smiles at him in the tunnel or
whatever it is, but if and when they go up against each other he has try to
beat him in every individual battle that he possibly can.
"And sensing Declan Rice's character, I am sensing they will both be
like-minded on that one. We will see."
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