Chelsea’s Mason Mount on ‘brilliant’ South Korean women’s teammate Ji So-yun, and using data to thrive in ‘different’ tactical position
- ‘I’ve seen a few of her games now and know she’s a top, top player,’ says Mount of Ji
- The 23-year-old reflects on head coach Tuchel’s decision to play him on the right more, and analysing data ‘to be more of a threat’
Premier League star Mason Mount was full of praise for Chelsea FC colleague and South Korea women’s team captain Ji So-yun, who added to her all-time leading national goalscoring tally against Vietnam on Friday.
The 30-year-old Ji, the first South Korean to play in the FA Women’s Super League and first non-British player to collect 100 league appearances, scored twice in South Korea’s 3-0 opening AFC Asian Cup group game.
Possessing strong technical abilities and an eye for goal, former league Player of the Year winner and Fifa Best Women’s Footballer nominee Ji shares similar characteristics with attacking midfielder Mount, who himself is closing in on a landmark 50 career goals.
“I have watched some of the women’s team games and I’ve seen Ji – she’s a brilliant player,” the 23-year-old Mount told the Post during a video interview organised by NowTV and the Premier League.
“Very good on the ball. I’ve seen a few of her games now and know she’s a top, top player. Hopefully I’ll get to see another game of hers very, very soon.”
Mount, named Chelsea’s 2020-21 season Player of the Year, is enjoying some scintillating form of his own, leading the club’s Premier League goals and assists rankings this season.
The England international cited manager Thomas Tuchel’s tactical decision to play him on the right more – as opposed to his familiar central-attacking position – and an increased analysis of player data.