Juan Mata

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Great attitude by Special Juan, I expected nothing less than that. Brilliant.

[Rapkun 668]

No way Juan was going to give up fighting for a starting spot. He knows he's good and will try to prove it to the coach, but if he still doesnt get the necessary time he needs and deserves imo he's going to have hard time to recover both his level and confidence. I wouldn't blame him if he left in winter, you cant just be the team's best player for the past 2 seasons and get benched from the start of the next one.

[Tomo 21,733]

Things are looking good for Juan. Jose said in the conference:

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said: "I liked the way Juan Mata played against Swindon. His attitude is very good and his effort was good.''

"When a player makes an effort to come in my direction then I go to him as well. I can imagine from now him working into my way of thinking and I think the natural tendency will for him to be in the team."

The thing I don't like about this though, is that trying to turn Mata into a high work rate defense+attack CAM will hinder his goals and assists, and his overall impact on the team. Especially when it comes to creating chances and making key passes.

If it helps the overall team results, i can live with it.

The team > any one player

Also if he improves his pressing and all round play he might play a lot more games for Spain, i can't think of any other reason Pedro starts ahead of him.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

If it helps the overall team results, i can live with it.

The team > any one player

Also if he improves his pressing and all round play he might play a lot more games for Spain, i can't think of any other reason Pedro starts ahead of him.

People questioned mourinho when he turned ramos to a centre back. Look at him now, a world class CB

And pedro only has workrate over mata, that's why he's there. Mourinho might end up helping mata more than we think

[Tomo 21,733]

People questioned mourinho when he turned ramos to a centre back. Look at him now, a world class CB

And pedro only has workrate over mata, that's why he's there. Mourinho might end up helping mata more than we think

Not to mention people (especially the romantics) went mental when Mourinho instantly dropped Cudicini for Cech, the result? league title with record points and least goal conceded ever in a league season, and it still doesn't sink in.

With Ramos i don't get why people got pissed about that, he was awful as a right back, up until Mou's appointment they had by far the worse defense out of the top teams in Europe, i remember they lost 4-0 at Anfield and 6-2 to Barca and in both Casilas was one of their best player's.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Not to mention people (especially the romantics) went mental when Mourinho instantly dropped Cudicini for Cech, the result? league title with record points and least goal conceded ever in a league season, and it still doesn't sink in.

With Ramos i don't get why people got pissed about that, he was awful as a right back, up until Mou's appointment they had by far the worse defense out of the top teams in Europe, i remember they lost 4-0 at Anfield and 6-2 to Barca and in both Casilas was one of their best player's.

Mourinho is a special coach. People just don't understand, and let the media and hatred of other fans for mourinho get to them.

Nobody gets the best out of a team(group of players) than mourinho. (NO ONE EVER)

Rivals know he's good so they spit bad things about him and pollute chelsea fans minds, sadly majority of us fall for this and now some want him out

[Milan 17,862]

You just have to love this player, there is really no other option. Such a beautiful character.

[OnePound 22]

People questioned mourinho when he turned ramos to a centre back. Look at him now, a world class CB

And pedro only has workrate over mata, that's why he's there. Mourinho might end up helping mata more than we think

This isn't even true. Ramos was expected as the next big centre back years before Mou took Real Madrid. Ask anybody in Spain.

[Fernando 6,491]

We play shit with out him and better with him.

If Mourinho cannot see that then he is delusional.

Mata just gave you the response in the field that you where wrong.

So play him now more!

[Tomo 21,733]

I think he has just played his way back into the team. Already his pressing looks better and has had his best game for months.

Maybe we should trust Mourinho in future?

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

Boss second half!

We should go:

Oscar - Mata - Hazard

In our next games, they complete each other really well.

[didierforever 7,349]

what a peformance!!! and this is what mata can do. he CONTROLS the games. oscar is not good enough to do that against big teams. oscar, hazard, their ball retention is pathetic with their back to the goals, and 90% of passes they recieve are with their back to the goals. mata is on a different level, different class. we dont have the players to replace him and still play good possession football.

[Jase 43,479]

Rob Harris ‏@RobHarris 2m

Mourinho says Juan Mata will start against Steaua Bucharest next week in Champions League

[meetdoscar 335]

He is back to form, should start the next game.

[1chelsea 864]

On the MATA am back!!!

[kellzfresh 7,229]

This isn't even true. Ramos was expected as the next big centre back years before Mou took Real Madrid. Ask anybody in Spain.

I'm sure madrid wanted the best right back in spain at that time to change position

[kellzfresh 7,229]

At least we can strike out one of matas weaknesses on his way to forcing his way into the spain squad properly

[Barbara 15,149]

I'm really happy with this performance but above all his attitude.

He played his usual in the attack, improved in the pressing and tackling, although he still gave the ball away 2-3 times (but let's not get picky). Truth is he's going to give it like that in almost all matches (as will any other player) so that's not concerning at all. The vulnerability I think he offered to our weak pivot last season when he didn't have any obligations with the defense are already being worked on. Missing a ball here and there is part of the process and the match.

I think we can see Mourinho's touch in his work-rate, on how he approached the match and his attitude in the pitch. Mata himself had said before the match he was more than willing and looking forward to improve, so I guess it's win-win for Chelsea.

I suspect that if he recovers his form from last season (and there's little doubt in my mind he will) and Mourinho realizes he can rely on him to command our attack actions with his assists and key-passes he'll be harsher on Eden and will bench him more often until he's challenged enough to step up. With the team being in transition and so many young boys in the AM, Mata can be the guy Mourinho will trust until the boys evolve and mature. Oscar and André seem to already be on the route and they're working their tits off in the matches. André is still inconsistent with his finishing and Oscar isn't much better (he can only score difficult goals, hehehe). Willian is going through a transition period, but I expect him to be by Mata's side as the men that Mourinho can pressure and challenge because they're older and more experienced.

Amazing match, amazing attitude, amazing character.