🇪🇸 Juan Mata

[xPetrCechx 13,598]

Sad day...

Mata is a top top player and even more, is a top top person...

and he gonna be replaced with salah... #_#

[kellzfresh 7,229]

@GrantJames

Some footballers care more about playing than anything else. Respect to mata.

Some managers always put the team first. Respect to Mourinho.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

I don't wanna get banned nor get bad vibes, so I'm not gonna fall for the trap, just know that I could retaliate in a million ways with words, oh and Chelsea means a lot to me since I was a confused teen, if you wanna play the plastic card. Just mind your own business if you can't reply without being personal.

Oh god, so you were serious weren't you?!

Look I hate the idea of Mata joining those scumbags as much as you do, but do you think it's fair to blame this on Mata solely?! What else can he do? Please enlighten me! Sit on the bench for the rest of the season and miss World Cup?

[The Skipper 20,609]

I don't wanna get banned nor get bad vibes, so I'm not gonna fall for the trap, just know that I could retaliate in a million ways with words, oh and Chelsea means a lot to me since I was a confused teen, if you wanna play the plastic card. Just mind your own business if you can't reply without being personal.

Lol. You've got to be kidding if you weren't expecting that sort of reaction.

I understand you're angry but you could be more respectful about a guy who carried the team in the past two seasons and is a big reason why we've got a strong foundation right now.

[Term-X 7,892]

Sad day...

Mata is a top top player and even more, is a top top person...

and he gonna be replaced with salah... #_#

He was replaced by Oscar.

Hazard can always play centrally too, as can Willian, even Lampard come to think of it.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Has anyone stopped to think that this is actually a good deal for all parties involved?

We get an insane amount of money for a guy we don't even play. Mata gets playing time at a decent club. United get a much needed motivational boost by signing a great player.

It's also good for the PL, as Jose said.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

I will from this moment on only ever refer to him as 'Mata the coward'!

[Fernando 6,723]

Mata zealots already out to make sarcy undermining remarks indirectly aimed at Mourinho (the embodiment of Chelsea FC) and his decision making.

Here's a good article about Mourinho decision making and how this deal was good for all parties:

Mata deal is best for him, United AND Chelsea

It's always sad to lose your best player, with Juan Mata having been voted as such by the club's fans and players for two years running. The Spaniard is known to be popular with the board, happy in the area and loyal to the club.

The sole reason for the 25-year old's departure, in that case, is Jose Mourinho.

You could argue that the touted £40m is a huge contributing factor but United would simply not be bidding on the playmaker if he were in the Portuguese's plans.The fact is that Chelsea are winning matches without him.

Mourinho has proven that he can contest for the title where predecessors couldn't without even playing the man that was deemed to be their strongest asset; something that he is likely to take real pleasure from.

The primary reason that 'The Special One' has given for dropping the former Valencia man is a lack of defensive contribution, or at least in relation to what he demands from his players. In Mourinho's eyes Chelsea will have had two luxury players last season, and in his system there is only room for one.

WhoScored.com’s statistically calculated player characteristics show that both Mata and Hazard have ‘defensive contribution’ as a weakness. Meanwhile, Oscar’s defensive contribution is ‘strong’, while Willian’s is statistically ‘very strong’.

Hazard is undoubtedly Mourinho’s luxury, while Oscar and Willian are being tasked with the hard graft that allows the Belgian to flourish. It’s worked, and he’s done exactly that.

Angel Di Maria played a similar role under Mourinho at Real Madrid. A tireless runner, Ronaldo's need to track back was lessened by the Argentine's work rate on the opposite flank.

You could argue that the Spanish giants had two luxury players in Mourinho's attacking midfield, with Ozil playing in behind the striker, but the manager has been quick to talk up the competitiveness of the Premier League in comparison to the 'two-team' La Liga at the time.

The Chelsea boss is clearly looking to press high up the pitch when possible, but also have more solidity to the side; a lack of which he may have felt cost them in recent years.

Chelsea fans can be as heartbroken as they like, and they will be, but £40m for a player that is surplus to requirements under a man that they were desperate to return is an incredibly good deal.

Ideally you don't want to sell to a club that, despite an awful campaign thus far, will likely still challenge for honours in the coming years, but there is no side outside of England that will pay that sort of money right now.

United are in somewhat of a desperate situation, and one that Chelsea are probably right to exploit. They need to rebuild and plan for the future in a time when key players may well see their own away from Old Trafford. Signing Juan Mata, if both Rooney and Van Persie stay beyond the summer, would certainly seem to make little tactical sense.

Any formation involving all three would surely see a lack of wingers, while Moyes is known for favouring attacks down the flanks. Indeed, no side has focused fewer of their attacking touches down the central third of the pitch than United this season (24%).

It's in this area where they've lacked creativity, however, with just 4 assists coming from wingers in the league thus far this season (Januzaj 2, Valencia 2). Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney, who has played in behind the striker more often than not, has 9 assists - three times the amount of any other teammate.

Mata is a superb player, there's no doubting that much. Since he arrived in England only compatriot David Silva has picked up more assists and created more chances in the Premier League than Mata's figures of 27 and 227 respectively. He can unlock a defence like few others in and around the box, but United will need to have a change in style if he was to do so to the greatest possible effect at Old Trafford.

The reigning champions would unquestionably be strengthening their squad by signing the 25-year old. They'll also be giving Chelsea a huge sum of money for a player on the fringes of the side, with which they can improve their team greatly where necessary.

United fans will be delighted at the prospect of seeing Mata in red if the transfer is secured but Chelsea's faithful shouldn't be feeling too blue over a deal that is certainly right for them at this moment.

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I will from this moment on only ever refer to him as 'Mata the coward'!

Sure, if that's how you wanna cope with it instead of accepting the reality, good for you.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

Has anyone stopped to think that this is actually a good deal for all parties involved?

We get an insane amount of money for a guy we don't even play. Mata gets playing time at a decent club. United get a much needed motivational boost by signing a great player.

It's also good for the PL, as Jose said.

I agree the former but not the latter United part. What's good for us United get a great player? But I admire our club's winning mentality and class act.

[Jase 43,479]

He was replaced by Oscar.

Hazard can always play centrally too, as can Willian, even Lampard come to think of it.

I think he meant Salah is bought to take Mata's place in the squad/team, an option out wide, as opposed to the No.10 role...

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Get the fuck out with hating Mata.

He is a great person and gave us more than we expected in last two years. He respected the club all the time, obe of most humble players I saw and always acted like professional.

He loves Chelsea but he loves football more. Mourinho, even for the good of team, fucked him up and ended his career here. No wonder Mata, a world class player wants to leave. Mou didnt show bit of respect to him and WE allowed him to join United.

And it seems like Mou wants to make Mata look like he forced transfer to United...

Good luck Juan! Thank you for all the great you did to us...carefree wherever you may be!

In the end we will lose one player that genuinely all football world and opponent fans liked and made a better picture about Chelsea. Thank you Mou for all this shit too. Top coach but idiot sometimes...

[The Skipper 20,609]

I agree the former but not the latter United part. What's good for us United get a great player? But I admire our club's winning mentality and class act.

Not for us, but for them it surely is. I hate United as much as anyone but the move is good for the PL - it'll keep it more competitive.

[Term-X 7,892]

Stats are like mini skirts.. they give you good ideas, but hide the most important parts.

[DYC. 7,542]

Stats are like mini skirts.. they give you good ideas, but hide the most important parts.

Entertaining as ever .

[Korea 734]

We should take the stats of Torres at liverpool vs Chelsea strikers...

[The Mak 4,459]

If what José said is true, that he wanted to go to those filthy scum, then all I can say is F*** HIM, pathetic superficial moron is what he is and I hope that he flatters all the biggest star flops by being so shitty that the likes of Kagawa and Torres become grateful of what they've been through compared to him. I had considered naming a rottweiler puppy after his last name because I was so sure he could become our new Zola, but f**k him once more. I'm unfollowing him on all social media and I wish him the worst bar injury and that kind of stuff ofc, on the pitch when playing alongside those other pieces of dirt. F**k him once more.

The definition of irony.

Mata zealots already out to make sarcy undermining remarks indirectly aimed at Mourinho (the embodiment of Chelsea FC) and his decision making.

If you cared to read any of my previous post you'd understand that i'm not a 'Mata zealot' and am only against the sale to a rival, but i'm not surprised, perhaps they were a little long for your liking. At least i'm not a clueless knob who tries to be controversial just for the sake of it - I don't try to belittle those who have the capacity to think independently just because they don't conform to 'God Mourinho's' will.

It's nice that you let Mourinho do all of your thinking for you though. Does he cut your toast in the morning and wipe your arse as well?

[Toli 977]

I'm confused. Are people genuinely and seriously hating Mata now or they are just feeling so because of the pain and devastation? The abuse I've seen him got in the past hours have been utterly ludicrous and pathetic. People are not understanding the situation enough and they are now treating as though Mata's contribution did not even exist! For starters, Mourinho - the man we are hailing as a legend now - would not have returned without Mata carrying us last season with his goals, assists and overall contribution to help us finish in Top 4 (and winning the Europa League). And if you remember, Mourinho has mentioned more than once of his dislike playing in the Europa League competition.

Honestly, I cannot believe this has happened - Mata leaving and (worse) going to Man United - the team we all love to hate. Ever since Mourinho returned last season, I had thought there was going to be a compatibility issue between the two given the contrasting style of play. I had actually thought it was going to work just fine, that nothing bad will happen but perhaps I might have been naive then.

I really can't blame Mata for leaving (something that I had been preparing myself for), even if it is to United. He wasn't playing and practically only United came knocking and he took the chance. Mata has tried to adapt and worked hard but it was never going to be quite enough for Mourinho's liking and fitting into his system and I think it's probably fair to say that we all had this lingering thought in our mind.

I also think it's easy for us to be armchair critics and just quickly criticize him for what has happened. If you were in his position instead, you would be thinking or feeling differently of the situation. Most of the criticism or abuse I've seen him got is mostly from a selfish point of view or with a blue tinted glass on. Cliche as it is, footballers' career are short and Mata needs to decide what is best for him, which is to play week in week out, something I don't think it's gonna happen here with Mourinho as the manager even if I would like to think otherwise.

Besides, we don't exactly know what has gone on behind closed doors. I know Mourinho has said what he has said in his press conference earlier and perhaps people shouldn't be so quick to judge the overall situation. Would like to give Mata a chance to speak and see what he has got to say on this, which I hope he does. Given his good nature in personality and character, think it would be unfair if that is not the case, no?

I'm devastated as many of the fans out there because he's leaving the club and because he has always felt like one of us from embracing the club, the history, connecting with the fans on social media and the way he celebrates some of his goals with the fans (e.g. Spurs and United away last season). And think what is making this transfer even more painful to everyone is because he's going to Man United, who we all hate, and it's probably ironic given I said in the previous sentence.

He might be feeling the pain and hurt and doing this to the fans but if he has to do what is best for his career, then what can we do? There is no point in him to just sit on the bench, no matter how hard he tries and work, if his style of play was 'A' and the manager 'B'? Never going to work out ultimately, unfortunately. What I would say is that Mata deserves a club better than United right now and they most certainly do not deserve someone like Mata!

Thank you Mata. Thank you for the brilliant and beautiful memories. You'll be fondly remembered at the club. Good luck.

And just thought I would share a few tweets that echoed my thoughts on this Mata situation.

perfectly summed up. thanks for that. hopefully some people will now understand the situation. calling mata a judas is just pathetic.

[╫rue Blue 47]

The more I think about it the more I respect Jose and our club.

No party should be blamed in this matter except cheeky scumbag Yawnited and bad timing (WC year).

Jose shouldn't be blamed for letting go a player who unfortunately doesn't fit his system but too good to sit on the bench. The board should be praised for the willingness of letting a world class player to join our direct rival instead of ruining Mata's career. Mata shouldn't be blamed for saving his career especially the WC is coming, he simply deserves to be on the pitch.

I personally hate Yawnited this disgusting club to guts and I'm devastated to accept the fact that our beloved Juan is going to wear that ugly red shirt. I'm not going to say it's a brilliant piece of business despite the hefty funds because we inevitably help Yawnited to revive on some sort of level. However it really shows Jose and our board's guts and fearless mentality that we are strong enough to face our direct rivals no matter who they sign. We're a way classier club than those scumbags who just can not let go Rooney despite him being unhappy for numerous time.

It's time for us to move on and to accept the fact that Mata is our enemy on the pitch now. Like I said I wish him all the best in personal life and get out of that shit hole asap because you Juan, is going to win nothing with Yawnited.

good post !

we all heartbreaking, and very sad

but this man deserve big thanks and respect because this possible the best for both parties

i just want to say thanks to him for everything he has done to the club. Amazing player and amazing gentleman

[Martina 210]

I honestly don’t understand why people feel the need to take sides - why the need to blame either José or Mata? Did Mourinho suddenly become a bad manager - people loved him on Sunday and can’t stand him 5 days later?

José didn’t think Mata fit well enough into his system (I don’t see any crime committed here) and wanted to keep him as a squad player. Now we have known this for some time. Mata wasn’t happy about it and decided to leave the club - that’s his personal decision and no crime committed here either.

I respect his decision and wish him luck. Personally I would have been happier if he went on loan somewhere else, but it’s his life. And I don’t see how Man United can suddenly become a huge threat - not with the manager they’ve got.

For me it was much worse when the club decided to make Torres our number 1 striker and thus forced Drogba out of the club.