Under clear blue skies at St George’s Park, Mason Mount hosts a memorable event on his day off following Manchester United’s victory over Brentford. He manages Wishes United, a team of 11 children facing critical illnesses, alongside teammate Luke Shaw. The opposing side features mascots from Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Portsmouth, led by former player Jamie Redknapp.
Make-A-Wish Event Delights Young Fans
Mount eagerly shares his wish to portray Fred the Red mascot after witnessing the children outmaneuver characters like Moonchester and Gunnersaurus Rex. He collaborated with his brother Lewis over 18 months to organize this, drawing inspiration from a prior Make-A-Wish UK event with Disney.
‘It really touched me, and it was tough to leave at the end,’ Mount recalls. ‘I’m a footballer, but there’s more to life than just football.’
The two-day immersive experience lets children eat, sleep, and train like professional players. Highlights include chauffeured arrivals, England training facilities, overnight stays, and tunnel walks with video messages from favorite stars. Conor Gallagher called in the day before, and Mount personally funds the event.
‘Speaking to all the kids and meeting some of the families, it just means so much,’ Mount says. ‘It’s a little bit of time away that they can just come here and forget about things.’
Premier League Title Ambitions for Manchester United
After the children depart in personalized kits, Mount turns to his own goals: securing the Premier League title with United next season, expanding his role at Old Trafford, and earning an England recall post-World Cup.
‘Yeah, it’s a goal: I want to win the Premier League,’ Mount declares. ‘Obviously I’ve won the Champions League already (with Chelsea), but can we do that? Yes, I think we can.’
He highlights United’s strong showings against top rivals like Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal. The recent FA Cup triumph fuels his drive, though next season’s likely Champions League return adds intensity.
‘It’s Manchester United. We don’t want to play 40 games a season. We want to play a lot more and be back in the Champions League,’ Mount states. ‘United deserve to be in the Champions League, they need to be in the Champions League. The fans deserve it.’
Praise for Michael Carrick’s Leadership
Mount endorses Michael Carrick to guide United forward. Carrick assumed control in January, bringing calm authority and player insight.
‘You can see the way we play and how we’ve performed since he’s been in,’ Mount notes. ‘I really like the way he works and the way he sees the game. He’s very level-headed.’
Despite early injuries under Carrick, Mount appreciates the manager’s support: ‘He was saying, “I want you back, you’re a massive part of the team.”‘
Overcoming Injuries and England Hopes
Injuries since his £60million move from Chelsea in 2023 limited Mount to 30 starts over three years. Yet he views this season as progress.
‘I haven’t been able to get that rhythm with the injuries and the setbacks. I’m in a really good position now to kick on,’ he says.
Mount eyes adding to his 36 England caps under Thomas Tuchel, ahead of the Euros after the World Cup.
‘Thomas knows me as a player and as a person inside out,’ Mount explains. ‘It’s the pinnacle to represent your country at a major tournament. I will be working extremely hard next season to really put myself in a great position to get back in.’
