Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil is happy knowing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is a big fan.
Chelsea academy graduate Mount is a boyhood Pompey fan, the club where O’Neil made his breakthrough at the start of his career, going on to play 193 times for the Fratton Park outfit.
During a loan spell with Derby County, Mount shared a pitch with his childhood hero, revealing that he had a replica Portsmouth shirt with O’Neil’s name on the back.
According to O’Neil, he also called his idol a “Pompey legend” during the game, with Mount grabbing a hat-trick as Derby trounced O’Neil’s Bolton 4-0.
Asked if he would feel old coming up against a player who looked up to him growing up as a manager, O’Neil responded: “I felt older when I played against him, especially when he ran past me!
“I’ve accepted the fact that I’m older now because I’m sat here and I’m not running around anymore.
“Whereas when you’re trying to run around after them, you’re still trying to hang on to the fact that you can still do it.
“I think he’s obviously a Portsmouth fan, growing up.
“We had a chat that day, the game Derby (against) Bolton when he scored a hat-trick.
“He’s having a fantastic career, still got loads of good years ahead of him. Hopefully I can come out on top on the 27th.”
