The doubts and jibes have long since been dismissed.
Once again, Mason Mount stepped up and showed he has become an invaluable, unstoppable force for both England and Chelsea.
This was Mount at his best, an exquisite finish in Seville as Chelsea took a huge step towards the semi-final with Ben Chilwell grabbing a second away goal in the dying minutes.
Incredibly, it was a first goal in the Champions League for both players and Mount also became the youngest Chelsea player to score a goal in a knock-out tie, aged 22 years and 87 days.
It was a hugely impressive win, disciplined in defence, ruthless in attack and the perfect response to Chelsea’s shock defeat to West Brom last weekend which already seems a distant memory.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Mount just keeps on improving, keeps on making huge strides and has convinced one manager after another of his quality as a top class attacking midfielder.
They used to call him a teacher’s pet when Frank Lampard would pick him every week and the same taunt was used whenever England boss Gareth Southgate picked Mount ahead of Jack Grealish. Now Mount starts every England game.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel left Mount out of his first starting line-up and yet, ever since, has become arguably the most important player under the German’s reign. Now there is no mistaking his class.
That is because Mount brilliantly combines skill, technique and ability with work rate – and that is what makes him such a huge favourite for every manager.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It is rare that you get such industry in a flair player but Mount showed both sides of his game in the decisive moment of the match in the 33rd minute as it paved the way for victory.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho stepped forward, played a nice short pass into Mount and what happened next underlined the No19’s ability.
Mount took the ball into his body, turned beautifully to create the space on the edge of the box and then fired a brilliant low shot across Porto keeper Agustin Marchesin.
(Image: JOSE MANUEL VIDAL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
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The ball flew into the far corner, Marchesin should have done better rather than just stick out a leg in hope but that should not take anything away from Mount.
It was a huge moment. Both of these quarter final ties are being played in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium because of coronavirus restrictions and you can almost forget which team is at home and who is classed as being away.
Luckily for Chelsea, they were the away team in the first leg, they get the advantage of the away goals even if playing back-to-back ties like this in the same stadium feels utterly bizarre.
Chelsea deserve huge credit for such an important win because Porto are no pushovers, they knocked out Juventus in the last round and provided some real threat at times.
Zaidu Sanusi blazed over from a gilt-edged chance early on and then former Real Madrid hardman Pepe was denied by Edouard Mendy, who also made a smart block from Moussa Marega.
Chelsea then really sealed victory in the dying minutes. Substitute Christian Pulisic crashed a shot against the underside of the bar before Chilwell doubled Chelsea’s lead.
The 24-year-old seized on a mistake by Porto defender Jesus Corona, stormed through and then rounded the keeper before slotting into an empty net to put Chelsea firmly on course for the semi-finals.
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