‘Even worse’ - Chelsea legend scolds club for strengthening Man Utd with Mason Mount deal

Chelsea legend Gus Poyet has scolded his former club for strengthening rivals Manchester United with the sale of Mason Mount and warned that Mauricio Pochettino is playing a dangerous game with his transfer policy.

Mount left his boyhood club to join the Red Devils on a £55 million deal this week after the star admitted it became 'clear' that he was not in the club's plans.

Poyet, who made 143 appearances for Chelsea and was part of the 2000 FA Cup-winning side, said he felt the Blues were at their best with an in-form Mount in the XI. He told 888sport: “The problem I have is that I like Mason a lot. I thought when he was at his best, Chelsea were performing at their highest level, then when he wasn’t playing or when he was out of form, Chelsea were suffering.

"People didn’t see that – they only looked at individuals and not how the team played, but when he was playing in his best position near the number 9 and having the freedom to create, Chelsea were scoring goals and creating chances.

“I don’t know why he suddenly disappeared from the starting XI, because he was on the bench all the time. People were saying he wasn’t fully fit, but if you’re not fully fit, you’re not on the bench every game! Most of the time he was on the bench and not playing, both under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard as well, it was frustrating to watch.

“Those kinds of situations, where it’s not clear what’s going on, doesn’t help anyone – it doesn’t help the player, the team, and especially not the coach, because he doesn’t know how much he can count on the player."

Poyet continued to lament that Chelsea had chosen Manchester United as the club to strike a deal with given that, in most seasons, the two are competing at a similar level in the top flight.

He added: "I’m disappointed that Mason is leaving, and when it’s to a club like Manchester United who are fighting with you [for similar league places], it’s even worse.”

Poyet was a key Chelsea player in the late 1990s with his goals from midfield providing some of the most memorable moments for fans during those seasons.

After leaving Stamford Bridge, the Uruguayan went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur before moving into management at sides including Brighton, Sunderland and Real Betis.

Poyet also spoke about the summer clearout facing new manager Mauricio Pochettino and sympathised with the big decisions facing the boss.

He said: “I think Pochettino has got some very strong decisions to make with regards to players. He’s already made a few impressive decisions that aren’t easy, I can tell you. Depending on those decisions, the situation will become better or worse – as a manager, you live and die by those decisions.

“Unfortunately for Chelsea, there are currently too many decisions to make, and none of them are simple ones. Having 22 players in the squad is far too many! How are you going to convince a player that he’s important to the squad, when he’s not even training within that 22? If his personality isn’t strong enough, you will lose him.

“Every little decision about those situations is going to affect the team – they are all professional, but they are still human beings, and you need to be with all of them.

“Last year, the quantity of the squad at Chelsea would have been impossible to deal with for any coach. They need to reduce the size, whilst maintaining the quality and the characters that you prefer as a coach – perhaps Pochettino will prefer big characters in the dressing room, maybe not. There are many, many things that come into the equation when you make a decision to keep or sell a player – so he needs to be strong.”