Having watched the 2008 final and shared our pain in the Moscow rain, the Academy graduate recalls wild celebrations at home when the class of 2012 finally got their hands on the most sought-after prize in European club football.

Chelsea, against the odds once more, are back in the showpiece final and Mount’s journey from spectator to orchestrator has been completed quicker than even he probably dreamt.

Only Olivier Giroud and Timo Werner have scored more European goals than the England international this season, underlining his increasingly prominent role in the team, and it is the ambition to emulate the Blues heroes of his childhood that drives Mount on as we head to Portugal to take on Manchester City this weekend.

‘The Champions League is massive,’ he declares. ‘It’s about the history of the competition and what Chelsea have done in it before. We want to follow in the footsteps of those past teams that have been very successful. If we win it for the second time, we can create greatness for this club.

‘I remember watching in 2008 when we lost to United but the most memorable one is Chelsea winning it and Drogba scoring the winning pen. I was celebrating at home with my family, going crazy!

‘The scenes after the game, even now I watch them and you see Drogba running with the trophy, everyone on the goal, taking the net and everything. Those are the little things that you remember.’

These memories are woven into the fabric of Chelsea’s European exploits, the struggles and successes coming together to give the Champions League its glamour and mystique. It is why the competition has been elevated to one of the most important in the world and, for Mount, one of the most special to take part in.

From the Championship to the Champions League final in 24 months, so much has changed for the midfielder but it is the famous pre-match music ringing in his ears that stirs Mount into realising the magnitude of the occasion.

‘It’s the anthem,’ he says. ‘When you’re lining up and that comes on, I sing it to myself. Even though you’re not supposed to sing it, I have a little sing to myself. It’s just so special when that comes on.

‘It’s the Champions League and you know you’re about to play a big game. This is a final so it’s going to be very special and obviously we’re all looking forward to it.’

The Blues have beaten City in both our most recent meetings with Thomas Tuchel in charge, including at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final, yet Mount disputes that those past encounters will have any bearing on the latest meeting.

‘We know each other very well,' he added. 'We’ve played a couple of times already this season but I don’t think us winning both those games really affects anything. It’s a final, a one-off game.

‘It’s not going to have a big effect so anything can happen. We want to win in 90 minutes and have a very good game but the final result is the thing that matters most.’