Chelsea’s Mason Mount warns team-mates to watch language in empty grounds when Premier League returns

Blues first take to the pitch on 21 June when they face struggling Aston Villa

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has said he and his team-mates will likely have to watch their language when when the Premier League returns behind closed doors next week.

Top-flight action resumes on 17 June after a three-month coronavirus-enforced break, with Chelsea first taking to the pitch on 21 June as they travel to Aston Villa.

While broadcasters are offering fans watching at home the option of fake crowd noise, players’ communication with one another on the field will be more audible than usual without fans in the stadium – something of which Mount said his team must be wary.

“It’s going to be interesting playing in a stadium where you can hear absolutely everything,” Mount told Chelsea’s official club website.

“We will have to be careful with the way we communicate on the pitch, whether that’s telling players where to go or what to do on the ball and things like that.

“Overall I think it will be fine, but we may have to just be careful not to use any bad language!”

Mount said he had been watching Bundesliga matches, which have given him an idea of how the atmosphere will be in empty stadia.

“It’s good to see what it feels like with no fans at the stadium, and what it could be like for us during the games when we start the Premier League up again,” he said.

“It’s very different and something we as players are not used to at all, but if it means we can get back to playing football, then that’s great.

Frank Lampard’s side are fourth in the table ahead of the league’s return (EPA)

“Obviously making sure everything is safe is the most important thing, because health is the first thing that needs to be considered, but seeing that they’ve managed to return in Germany and that we are following, it makes us very excited to get back playing.”

Frank Lampard’s team are fourth in the table with nine matches remaining and will expect a challenge from fifth-placed Manchester United – who sit three points behind them – for a Champions League spot.

Whichever side finishes fifth might not need to despair, however; second-placed Manchester City will learn whether their appeal against a two-year ban from the Champions League has been successful by the middle of July.

If the appeal is unsuccessful, the Premier League’s fifth-placed team will be in line for Champions League football next season.