The Mason Mount Paradox

Mason Mount scored twice in MU's 4-1 win over Bilbao.

Manchester United's 4-1 victory over Bilbao in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final on the morning of April 9 seemed overwhelming, but the reality was far from it. The home team at Old Trafford experienced many difficult moments against the opponent from La Liga, and it was Mount's appearance that created a significant turning point.

Mason Mount's Night

When coach Ruben Amorim adjusted his tactics by bringing on Mount, Amad Diallo and Luke Shaw, the game changed completely. Mount stood out with two goals, especially a long-range strike in injury time, showing his ability to read the situation and finish sharply.

However, let's not forget that these were just rare rays of light in a season where Mount was mostly on the bench and lacked consistency.

The Englishman impressed with his statistics of never losing possession and his passing accuracy. But let’s be objective: Mount came on when the game was already established and the pressure was not as high as in the opening minutes.

In that context, 12 accurate passes and 4/6 successful challenges are not necessarily outstanding achievements for a midfielder who is receiving the top salary at the club.

Mount’s paradox at Man United is that he possesses remarkable technical talent and tactical vision, but lacks durability and stability. Continuous injuries combined with the pressure of competition for position have prevented Mount from asserting his position at Old Trafford.

Mount needs more explosive nights like this.

The performance against Bilbao was no surprise to those who watched him at Chelsea – it’s something Mount is used to. The question is whether he can maintain that form, especially with Amorim looking for stability in midfield.

Question mark of the future

This performance may open the door for Mount to start in the upcoming Europa League final, but it doesn’t guarantee him a permanent place. Ultimately, Mount owes more to United fans than individual moments of brilliance.

With a huge transfer fee and salary, this is just the first step for him to prove his investment value.

Admittedly, Mount made the difference in the semi-final, but that was just one piece of his complicated journey at Old Trafford. One outstanding performance cannot erase the disappointments that preceded it. Mount needs more than that to convince Amorim and prove he is more than just a flash in the pan, but a reliable pillar of the team.

Ultimately, the performance against Athletic Bilbao showed Mount can still shine in big moments. But the question remains: is this a sign of a genuine revival, or just the last glimmer of a fading star at Manchester United?

Time and upcoming games will tell, but Mount certainly needs more than one explosive game to erase the doubts.

United fans have every right to expect consistency from Mount, not just flashes of brilliance. That is the true measure of a top-class player at a club as big as Manchester United.

Source: https://znews.vn/nghich-ly-mason-mount-post1552057.html