K tomu, aby se stal hrdinou pohárového večera, stačila Mountovi necelá půlhodinka. Na plac vyběhl z lavičky. Za stavu 0:1, kdy se snaživé Bilbao hnalo za druhou brankou, která by v rámci celého dvojutkání (první zápas skončil 3:0 pro United) situaci anglickému mančaftu hodně zkomplikovala.
A co na to Mount? Přišel, viděl, rozhodl.
V 72. minutě si ve vápně elegantně převzal balon za patou po dobré práci parťáka Lenyho Yora a obstřelem z otočky srovnal ranou přesně k tyči. Na závěrečné momenty si pak přichystal opravdovou lahůdku. Nepovedený odkop vyběhnuvšího gólmana Julena Agirrezabaly ztlumil kousek od půlící čáry a míč lehce podsekl. Slabší levačkou. Dalekonosný pokus zapadl do sítě. 4:1, hotovo.
„Jakmile jsem viděl, kde se gólman nachází, měl jsem v hlavě jen jedno. Že si míč posunu a vystřelím. Sice jsem neměl v plánu zakončit levačkou, ale vyšlo to,“ culil se Mount.
„Za Masona jsem neskutečně rád. Jde o ohromně kvalitního fotbalistu, který neustále maká na maximum. Těší mě, že nám pomohl. A že my jsme pomohli jemu,“ chválil kouč Rúben Amorim.
Až dosud se totiž Mountovo působení na Old Trafford jevilo jako totální průšvih. United vykoupili středopolaře v létě 2023 z Chelsea za částku, přesahující 64 milionů eur (přes 1,6 miliardy korun).
Jenže investice se dlouho vůbec nevyplácela. Kdykoliv se zdálo, že se Mount pomalu dostává do tempa, zbrzdilo ho zranění. Trhaly se svaly. Lýtka, hamstringy. Opakovaně. Část veřejnosti už šikovného středopolaře poměrně logicky prakticky odepsala.
Převážně kvůli zdravotním patáliím mu trvalo téměř dva roky, než se Mount poprvé od přestupu trefil doma. Čtvrteční, pohárový večer ale jasně ukázal, že má mančaftu co dát. A nešlo jen o góly. Angličan předvedl také velmi chytrou patičku a třeba i perfektní skluz na obranné polovině.
„Potřebuje se dostat do pohody a konečně vydržet zdravý. Zápas, jako byl tento, může jeho sebedůvěře jen pomoci,“ ví bývalá anglická záložnice Izzy Christiansenová.
„Bylo potřeba zůstat pozitivně naladěný. V každém okamžiku,“ vysvětloval Mount, jak složité období přečkal.
Teď musí doufat, že zůstane fit. A že mu to bude podobně lepit i ve finále Evropské ligy 21. května, kdy se United střetnou s Tottehnamem.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Rafael Devers unleashes on Red Sox brass, plus Pittsburgh’s stark reality
The Windup Newsletter ⚾ | This is The Athletic’s MLB newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Windup directly in your inbox.Rafael Devers said the quiet part (very) out loud, Max Fried has been (somehow) even better with the Yankees, and Derek Shelton has taken the fall in Pittsburgh for ownership’s shortcomings.I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal. Welcome to The Windup!😬: Devers drama thickens Literally two days ago in this very space, here’s what I had to say about the fact that Rafael Devers wouldn’t be playing first base for the Red Sox:“To be fair, that’s not quite the full-chest ‘no way’ we got from Devers this spring. It’s also not an offer to do it. All we know is: It’s not happening.”One thing journalists attempt to do is — no matter how much it might seem a player feels one way or another — […]
Why Ashton Jeanty Can Be the Running Back Who Finally Wins Rookie of the Year Again
The list of all-time great running backs who won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors is impressive.You’d need three or four paragraphs to recite them all. We’ll name five — Earl Campbell (1978), Barry Sanders (1989), Emmitt Smith (1990), Marshall Faulk (1994) and Adrian Peterson (2007). Apologies to the Hall of Famers not mentioned, but the point is this: If a running back someday becomes a legend, he likely won Rookie of the Year honors while getting his career off to a great start. That’s the situation facing Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty as he takes aim at NFL stardom. Jeanty was the Heisman Trophy runner-up at Boise State after putting together one of the best running back seasons in college football history in 2024. His 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground rank second […]
Why Ashton Jeanty Can Be the Running Back Who Finally Wins Rookie of the Year Again
The list of all-time great running backs who won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors is impressive.You’d need three or four paragraphs to recite them all. We’ll name five — Earl Campbell (1978), Barry Sanders (1989), Emmitt Smith (1990), Marshall Faulk (1994) and Adrian Peterson (2007). Apologies to the Hall of Famers not mentioned, but the point is this: If a running back someday becomes a legend, he likely won Rookie of the Year honors while getting his career off to a great start. That’s the situation facing Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty as he takes aim at NFL stardom. Jeanty was the Heisman Trophy runner-up at Boise State after putting together one of the best running back seasons in college football history in 2024. His 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground rank second […]
Four things the Canucks can learn from the Stanley Cup playoffs so far
The entertainment value of the Stanley Cup playoffs so far has been through the roof.Despite the Vancouver Canucks’ absence this spring, if you’re regularly tuning into NHL playoff games then you know that, without question, this is the best the NHL product has been in decades.The chaos, speed and physicality of these games have been exceptional. The momentum swings have been uncharacteristically dramatic, and constant. The skill level has never been higher across the league. And while the officiating has been uneven in moments, and always will be given the pace of these games, the true game-deciding calls or missed calls have been relatively rare (despite the missed trip on Viktor Arvidsson in overtime on Thursday night).AdvertisementAs I’ve tuned into these games and considered the state of the league and how the game is evolving in real time right before […]
Premier League predicted line-ups: Who do our writers think will start in Gameweek 36?
As we approach another weekend of action in the Premier League, our writers have had a go at naming the starting XIs for the upcoming matches.There could be late changes or injuries, but our staff have predicted these line-ups given the information available at the time of writing.Ben Dinnery is also holding his weekly Fantasy Premier League live Q&A today.Follow the Premier League and FPL on The AthleticFulham vs Everton, Saturday 3pm BST/10am ETHow to watch: Not available (UK); Peacock (U.S.)Notes: Reiss Nelson, Timothy Castagne, Sasa Lukic, Harrison Reed (injured); Rodrigo Muniz, Andreas Pereira (doubts)Justin GuthrieNotes: James Tarkowski, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala (injured)Patrick BoylandIpswich Town vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm BST/10am ETHow to watch: Not available (UK); Peacock (U.S.)Notes: Wes Burns, Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, Arijanet Muric, Jaden Philogene (injured); Leif Davis (suspended); Nathan Broadhead, Conor Townsend (doubts)Ali RamplingNotes: Aaron Hickey, Josh […]
Ranking Commanders’ undrafted free agents: Can a former 5-star recruit crack the 53?
Undrafted free agents have cracked the 53-man roster in these parts before.The Washington Commanders open their three-day 2025 rookie minicamp on Friday, with first-round offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and four other draft picks receiving their first reps with their new team. Alongside will be 10 undrafted free agents set to stick around for training camp. After that, we’ll see.AdvertisementAny UDFA faces steep odds of making the Week 1 roster. Wide receiver Cam Sims and cornerback Danny Johnson turned their long-shot dreams into several seasons in the NFL. Impressive summers for two active players, tight end Colson Yankoff and safety Tyler Owens, paid off last year. With The Athletic insider Dane Brugler’s exhaustive draft guide, here’s a look at this year’s hopefuls in ranking order and possible fits with Washington. Guaranteed money figures were included when possible.This group does not include […]
Related
Rafael Devers unleashes on Red Sox brass, plus Pittsburgh’s stark reality
The Windup Newsletter ⚾ | This is The Athletic’s MLB newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Windup directly in your inbox.Rafael Devers said the quiet part (very) out loud, Max Fried has been (somehow) even better with the Yankees, and Derek Shelton has taken the fall in Pittsburgh for ownership’s shortcomings.I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal. Welcome to The Windup!😬: Devers drama thickens Literally two days ago in this very space, here’s what I had to say about the fact that Rafael Devers wouldn’t be playing first base for the Red Sox:“To be fair, that’s not quite the full-chest ‘no way’ we got from Devers this spring. It’s also not an offer to do it. All we know is: It’s not happening.”One thing journalists attempt to do is — no matter how much it might seem a player feels one way or another — […]
Why Ashton Jeanty Can Be the Running Back Who Finally Wins Rookie of the Year Again
The list of all-time great running backs who won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors is impressive.You’d need three or four paragraphs to recite them all. We’ll name five — Earl Campbell (1978), Barry Sanders (1989), Emmitt Smith (1990), Marshall Faulk (1994) and Adrian Peterson (2007). Apologies to the Hall of Famers not mentioned, but the point is this: If a running back someday becomes a legend, he likely won Rookie of the Year honors while getting his career off to a great start. That’s the situation facing Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty as he takes aim at NFL stardom. Jeanty was the Heisman Trophy runner-up at Boise State after putting together one of the best running back seasons in college football history in 2024. His 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground rank second […]
Why Ashton Jeanty Can Be the Running Back Who Finally Wins Rookie of the Year Again
The list of all-time great running backs who won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors is impressive.You’d need three or four paragraphs to recite them all. We’ll name five — Earl Campbell (1978), Barry Sanders (1989), Emmitt Smith (1990), Marshall Faulk (1994) and Adrian Peterson (2007). Apologies to the Hall of Famers not mentioned, but the point is this: If a running back someday becomes a legend, he likely won Rookie of the Year honors while getting his career off to a great start. That’s the situation facing Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty as he takes aim at NFL stardom. Jeanty was the Heisman Trophy runner-up at Boise State after putting together one of the best running back seasons in college football history in 2024. His 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground rank second […]
Four things the Canucks can learn from the Stanley Cup playoffs so far
The entertainment value of the Stanley Cup playoffs so far has been through the roof.Despite the Vancouver Canucks’ absence this spring, if you’re regularly tuning into NHL playoff games then you know that, without question, this is the best the NHL product has been in decades.The chaos, speed and physicality of these games have been exceptional. The momentum swings have been uncharacteristically dramatic, and constant. The skill level has never been higher across the league. And while the officiating has been uneven in moments, and always will be given the pace of these games, the true game-deciding calls or missed calls have been relatively rare (despite the missed trip on Viktor Arvidsson in overtime on Thursday night).AdvertisementAs I’ve tuned into these games and considered the state of the league and how the game is evolving in real time right before […]
Premier League predicted line-ups: Who do our writers think will start in Gameweek 36?
As we approach another weekend of action in the Premier League, our writers have had a go at naming the starting XIs for the upcoming matches.There could be late changes or injuries, but our staff have predicted these line-ups given the information available at the time of writing.Ben Dinnery is also holding his weekly Fantasy Premier League live Q&A today.Follow the Premier League and FPL on The AthleticFulham vs Everton, Saturday 3pm BST/10am ETHow to watch: Not available (UK); Peacock (U.S.)Notes: Reiss Nelson, Timothy Castagne, Sasa Lukic, Harrison Reed (injured); Rodrigo Muniz, Andreas Pereira (doubts)Justin GuthrieNotes: James Tarkowski, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala (injured)Patrick BoylandIpswich Town vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm BST/10am ETHow to watch: Not available (UK); Peacock (U.S.)Notes: Wes Burns, Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, Arijanet Muric, Jaden Philogene (injured); Leif Davis (suspended); Nathan Broadhead, Conor Townsend (doubts)Ali RamplingNotes: Aaron Hickey, Josh […]
Ranking Commanders’ undrafted free agents: Can a former 5-star recruit crack the 53?
Undrafted free agents have cracked the 53-man roster in these parts before.The Washington Commanders open their three-day 2025 rookie minicamp on Friday, with first-round offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and four other draft picks receiving their first reps with their new team. Alongside will be 10 undrafted free agents set to stick around for training camp. After that, we’ll see.AdvertisementAny UDFA faces steep odds of making the Week 1 roster. Wide receiver Cam Sims and cornerback Danny Johnson turned their long-shot dreams into several seasons in the NFL. Impressive summers for two active players, tight end Colson Yankoff and safety Tyler Owens, paid off last year. With The Athletic insider Dane Brugler’s exhaustive draft guide, here’s a look at this year’s hopefuls in ranking order and possible fits with Washington. Guaranteed money figures were included when possible.This group does not include […]
Be the first to leave a comment