Spaniard Juan Mata has easily been Chelsea’s best player in the last two years. He was linked with several clubs like Manchester United, PSG, and Valencia in this transfer window. For those who want a few laughs, there was even talk of Arsenal and Tottenham being interested in him. Mata has now spoken about his future (probably for the first time since the transfer window closed) and has pledged his future to Chelsea.
Speaking to Chelsea TV, Mata said:
“My only aim is to play here, grow as a player and do as good a season as the last two which were amazing for me.
“I’ve had plenty of rest and now I’m feeling really good. The best thing for me is to play because I love to play.”
Signed from Valencia, Mata has looked like one of the bargains of this decade at just £24 million. Yet, the rumours about his Chelsea future that surfaced after Mourinho took over has never really died down. Mata has been incredibly successful playing as the attacking midfielder just behind the striker.
Immediately after taking over, Mourinho said that he had a different role for the 25-year-old and that was to play in the wings. This to me saw the start of the rumours, as everyone (including me) suspected that Mourinho did not have a lot of confidence in Mata.
“I’m looking forward to achieving as many trophies as we did the last two seasons and hopefully this is going to be a good season for us again.
“It’s been a very, very good two seasons for me here, maybe the best of my career, and what I want this season is the same.” – added Mata
For his part, Mourinho has said that Mata has been playing non-stop (because of club and international commitments) in the last two years. He did appear tired and rusty against Aston Villa – his last appearance in a Chelsea shirt.
Mourinho on Mata’s Chelsea future:
“Everything is clear between me and the player. We have no problems. I think he’s a very important player for us. He wants to be a very important player for us.
“He wants to stay. I want him to stay, the club want him to stay. There is no story.”
He has not been with the Spain squad for this international break, as Vicente del Bosque has left him out and Fernando Torres on grounds of being tired.
Chelsea’s next match is against Everton at Goodison Park on September 14. Mata should make a return to the first-team for this match.
Mata just stay you r gonna succed ok!
Jose Mourinho is rightfully ONLY interested in results. Mata is a fantastic player but cannot defend very well and not good at tracking back and helping his full back and defence out. It is just one of the reasons that Chelsea’s defence over the last few seasons has been poor. We haven’t been able to defend a lead for a long time now. Mourinho is changing that. Most games Chelsea will be starting on the front foot but in those games where we need to defend in numbers Mata will be on the bench. It’s making hard decisions like that that makes Jose so successful at winning things.
Great comments Alan, although I feel Hazard is bad at tracking back than Mata. If you have players like Mata and Hazard, you can hurt your opposition going the other way. That’s the problem with Mourinho. He’s too defensive.
I d media had blown d mata issue out of proportion, its right to save d best for d best, remember jack wilshere
Take a luk at ozil in madrid,ozil isn’t gud in trackin back jus like mata nd mourinho use him well,so u dnt knw wat mourinho wil do with mata
I really luv mata,d three attacking midfield(MAZACAR)i really luv dem all,see u in ur place soon mata
Am using this this opportunity to say morinho is a useless coach for benching mata.mata is the best player at chealsea right now.am not chealsea fan am barca for life.morinho will be sack very soon.
you are very right lawal, am true blue fan dat LOVE Jose but now his d most useless coach have ever since that why he cost us the SUPER CUP with his defencive INFORMATION, My question is, why should a responsinble coach change a WINNING team just like that, beaching the likes of mata, mikel etc. Is better for him to go back to the winning TEAM befor he will be disgrace out of starmdford Bridge
Alan you are right. Mou likes physical players. David ozil tracks back better dan mata n is more physical dan juan also but I feel mata still has lots to show and mou would giv him dat chance
Mata is beta than Ozil,we shld stop comparing them
yes you are right young.am true blue fan dat love jose but nowhis d most coach have ever I really luv mata d three attacking midffeld. pls mourinho make mata a return to the first-team for the match
Jose is a genius