Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has paid tribute to former manager Frank Lampard.
Lampard was sacked and replaced by Thomas Tuchel this week.
"It's a tough time for the club," Mount told the club's website. "I've been here for a very long time and seen managers depart from afar while being in the Academy but when you're in the first team building and it happens, it's a different feeling.
"It's something us younger players haven't really experienced before but we speak to the likes of Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] and Petr Cech, who have been through it, and try to get any bit of experience from them on how to deal with it."
Mount, like many of his Academy contemporaries, was trusted by Lampard and even captained the team in the FA Cup victory over Luton Town last weekend.
"He's been very important to me," the midfielder continued. "He brought me to Derby, gave me the playing time and I learnt so much under him there before coming back to Chelsea and continuing my learning.
"I have nothing but praise and gratitude for everything he's given me as a player on and off the pitch. I've definitely grown as a player as well so he obviously means a lot to me."
