🇪🇸 Juan Mata

[The Mak 4,459]

LOOOOL, so many ridiculous overreactions regarding Mata!

Agreed. Complete overreactions.

I agree that it may actually be of benefit to the club to move him on if things don't improve. But to belittle the man like people have done here is insulting to the 2 fantastic years of service he has provided. People are all too quick to forget how much we depended on him to win games and quick jump to José's side when things look good (for now). It seems like some people have been waiting for this moment for a while.

Honestly, some of the reactions on here have shocked me and I expected more on an educated forum. Saying that Mata might have to move on is fine, but people should also show a level of respect for what he has done for the club up until that moment. It was the first semi-negative thing he's done here and it was because he's a footballer who wants to play football. For fuck sake. Look at all the insanely stupid shit JT has done but 95% of people here still call him 'legend'. Hypocrites.

[Korea 734]

Just out of curiosity, did Lampard receive the same level of criticism when he pulled a similar stunt under AVB?

after they won UCL, everything and everyone was forgiven and forgotten...

except by Roman...

[Special Juan 28,141]

That may be a decent point but let's be fair here for a second, do people expect somebody - even someone as cool as Mata - to always stay calm and normal in the heat of the moment and arguably facing an increase in frustration? As I said in the previous post, it's always easy for we all sitting here and just criticize when someone react like that and perhaps not understand enough of the situation or the player's POV.

There is that, but there is also the fact there is a time and place to show your frustration. This can be done away from the cameras behind close doors etc, and this doesn't just apply to Mata, but to every player. I never understand why players show petulance when they are subbed from the field, after all they maybe human and have feeling but they also have a level of professionalism to show, both as a player and role model.

Jose said his door is always open for people to speak with him, this is the route Mata should of taken, now the Jose heckles are up and Mata has a choice. If my boss grills me at work I don't show petulance or annoyance I simply take it on the chin or debate back in a reasonable and rational way. We live in a media driven world which you would make them think twice about doing what they do no matter what the circumstances.

He's a professional who want's to play football, that has to be remembered here and for the good of both parties the right agreement must be reached whether we part or stay company.

I can see both points of view but Mata should of gone about this the right way, the way he did was the wrong way.

[Jase 43,479]

Nobody can, but publicly challenging the authority of the club's manager in the way he did yesterday is petulant, spoilt, and childish. That's why he's upset people, myself included. I thought he was the model professional but he obviously can't take disappointment. The real great footballers respond to these periods and come back stronger. It's not like you can say he's doing all he can. At his best this season, he's been playing at about 60% of the capacity he was capable of last season. Yes, I know it is hard to play well and play consistently well when you're in and out of the team, but he has been given ample opportunity to win the shirt.

Before people jump on the bandwagon and accuse me of being ardent defender of Mata here, I would like to ask, on what grounds were Mata's reaction yesterday indicating he was challenging Mourinho's decision or authority for that matter? Yes, we can all see his frustration and he's clearly not happy after he was subbed off but we don't even know what his frustration was exactly, do we? It just seems nonsensical that people are coming to that conclusion above based on one reaction like that - a speculation-esque if anything - when there is no 100% evidence to say he was completely challenging Mourinho's decision. And even at that, to say he's 'challenge' seems somewhat OTT of a description. If anything, there's a difference between him 'not happy' with Mourinho's decision and 'challenge' the manager's decision.

[The only place to be 11,313]

That may be a decent point but let's be fair here for a second, do people expect somebody - even someone as cool as Mata - to always stay calm and normal in the heat of the moment and arguably facing an increase in frustration? As I said in the previous post, it's always easy for we all sitting here and just criticize when someone react like that and perhaps not understand enough of the situation or the player's POV.

Schurrle managed. KDB has managed. Cole has managed. Plenty of players have managed.

I understand he must've been frustrated but petulance like that from someone like Mata can seem a little calculated. He's an intelligent man, he understands how stuff like this works.

I'm surprised he's taken him this long to kick off. one things for sure though, he won't be short of suitors and offers if/when he becomes available on the market so our loss really. from mata's perspective, he knows plenty of top to emerging clubs will be after him and make him a starter in their respective teams so why should he settle for the crappy treatment he's been getting from jose. . . .he doesn't have the problem some players have of worrying that Chelsea could be their last and only chance of ever playing for a top club and at the highest level.

good luck to him wherever he goes as he's one of my favourite Chelsea players, classy guy too.

Why has he received crappy treatment? Jose just rates Oscar higher than him in the middle and Willian better than him on the right-wing. How on Earth is that crappy treatment?

Cole has been surplanted by a right-back who proved Jose wrong. Azpi wasn't in the first-team, but he was given a chance and won that shirt. Has Mata not been given a fair chance?

Agreed. Complete overreactions.

I agree that it may actually be of benefit to the club to move him on if things don't improve. But to belittle the man like people have done here is insulting to the 2 fantastic years of service he has provided. People are all too quick to forget how much we depended on him to win games and quick jump to José's side when things look good (for now). It seems people have just been waiting for this moment for a while.

Honestly, some of the reactions on here have shocked me and I expected more on an educated forum. Saying that Mata might have to move on is fine, but people should also show a level of respect for what he has done for the club up until that moment. It was the first semi-negative thing he's done here and it was because he's a footballer who wants to play football. For fuck sake. Look at all the insanely stupid shit JT has done but 95% of people here still call him 'legend'. Hypocrites.

People are judging him on his actions. No-one is ignoring his contribution to this club but simply putting it into context. I haven't seen anyone belittle him.

In fact what I've seen is more people moaning about Mata not playing at the first opportunity (especially on Twitter) than praising Oscar's emergence as one of the most exciting prospects in world football.

[Term-X 7,891]

I'm surprised he's taken him this long to kick off. one things for sure though, he won't be short of suitors and offers if/when he becomes available on the market so our loss really. from mata's perspective, he knows plenty of top to emerging clubs will be after him and make him a starter in their respective teams so why should he settle for the crappy treatment he's been getting from jose. . . .he doesn't have the problem some players have of worrying that Chelsea could be their last and only chance of ever playing for a top club and at the highest level.

good luck to him wherever he goes as he's one of my favourite Chelsea players, classy guy too.

Yea!, Mourinho got those two substitutions wrong yesterday, so Mata has every right to feel hard done by. Substandard coaching from Mourinho, we should make Mata player-manager.

[Term-X 7,891]

Oh saint-Mata, can do no wrong..

All Mourinho's fault.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Nobody can, but publicly challenging the authority of the club's manager in the way he did yesterday is petulant, spoilt, and childish.

Shut up, he didnt challenge anyone's authority!

Childish is the complete overreaction you are having towards a simple gesture Mata had. You are making it bigger than the game itself...

He was only very upset due to all the things he is going through this season. We are in January and this is the very first sign of disappointment Mata showed. Mata won the last two POTY awards and now he is not even on the first team. How do you expect him to react? Giving kisses to Jose in the press conferences? Of corse not! Juan even waited A LOT to show it (at least in public). He was a gentlemen compared to other players in his situation (does Rooney ring a bell?). If this was another player, agents and family members would have already made a media mess by now!

He is human just like everybody else, which means emotions can take over control sometimes. He didnt storm into the dressing room, he didnt questioned or yelled at Mourinho, he didnt refused to get subbed, he didnt sat on the bench breaking things, etc. He was only very upset and didnt do anything to hide it.

And we dont even know if all those faces and signs were complainments towards Jose or himself. Maybe he was just absolutely pissed that all he was doing wasnt working. We dont know!

Juan was not playing well and he deserved to be benched. I am not defending he had to be on the team (because he didnt). But we cant be arrogant to a point where we expect him to act like a robot and feel nothing. He is a human being with expectations and goals just like everybody else and he is realising they will hardly be fulfilled with Jose Mourinho (not that Jose is wrong, but still). So it is pretty normal that Juan acts like he did yeaterday.

Again, I am not defending his place on the team nor any bigger reactions that might come in the future in case things continue like that. However, it is perfectly understandable why he is dissappointed and acted a little rusty yesterday...

[Special Juan 28,141]

How anyone can be unappreciative of what Mata has done is not even in it, I don't think there would be a single person on here, or anywhere.

The debate isn't of that, the debate is about his long term future here and yesterdays happenings.

[Jase 43,479]

There is that, but there is also the fact there is a time and place to show your frustration. This can be done away from the cameras behind close doors etc, and this doesn't just apply to Mata, but to every player. I never understand why players show petulance when they are subbed from the field, after all they maybe human and have feeling but they also have a level of professionalism to show, both as a player and role model.

Jose said his door is always open for people to speak with him, this is the route Mata should of taken, now the Jose heckles are up and Mata has a choice. If my boss grills me at work I don't show petulance or annoyance I simply take it on the chin or debate back in a reasonable and rational way. We live in a media driven world which you would make them think twice about doing what they do no matter what the circumstances.

I can see both points of view but Mata should of gone about this the right way, the way he did was the wrong way.

I get your point but let's not act as if we all don't lose all cool in front of people at some point during our lives...

[Namika 922]

Just out of curiosity, did Lampard receive the same level of criticism when he pulled a similar stunt under AVB?

Yes, he did.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

The only realistic scenario that I see to this is Atletico Madrid trading Diego Costa for him.

On one hand, Chelsea would get the top striker it desperately needs. On the other hand, Atletico Madrid won't be able to keep its striker much longer with a buyout clause of 37m. And when they do get the 37m, they still won't manage to attract a world class player like Mata. They won't get another chance like this one.

It's also a plus for both players. Mata will get the playing time he needs to play the world cup and Diego Costa will be at one of the best European clubs.

Yea that might be the best solution for everyone. Mata could play behind villa and athletico would still be great in attack too.

That should also prevent us from using courtois as a bargaining chip for Diego Costa.

[Jase 43,479]

Schurrle managed. KDB has managed. Cole has managed. Plenty of players have managed.

I understand he must've been frustrated but petulance like that from someone like Mata can seem a little calculated. He's an intelligent man, he understands how stuff like this works.

Easy to say all that really when there are so many factors in this situation. And as for KDB has managed, yeah, he hasn't even been seen practically at all this season to even be able to say he has managed.

[lionsden 4,689]

@theonlyplacetobe wrote Why has he received crappy treatment? Jose just rates Oscar higher than him in the middle and Willian better than him on the right-wing. How on Earth is that crappy treatment?

And that's why I want him to join a club that would treat him with the level of respect he deserves. he's too good a playmaker to play second fiddle to anyone not named Iniesta,Ozil and Silva (possibly). Most teams in Europe realise this as he's very highly rated and he won't be having much regret if he moves in Jan or summer. so fair fucks

[Jase 43,479]

How anyone can be unappreciative of what Mata has done is not even in it, I don't think there would be a single person on here, or anywhere.

The debate isn't of that, the debate is about his long term future here and yesterdays happenings.

Think Chelsea fans do appreciate what Mata has contributed to this club but right now, it seems as if some are just completely dismissing that like it never even existed.

As for yesterday's happenings, just find it 'curious' that there are some who is quick to jump to conclusions and not really even looking at both sides of the coin to evaluate the whole situation in relation to the incident.

[Korea 734]

@theonlyplacetobe wrote Why has he received crappy treatment? Jose just rates Oscar higher than him in the middle and Willian better than him on the right-wing. How on Earth is that crappy treatment?

And that's why I want him to join a club that would treat him with the level of respect he deserves. he's too good a playmaker to play second fiddle to anyone not named Iniesta,Ozil and Silva (possibly). Most teams in Europe realise this as he's very highly rated and he won't be having much regret if he moves in Jan or summer. so fair fucks

Well, if he does leave. he will play second fiddle to any big team he potentially joins...

However, if he goes to an emerging squad, than maybe not...

[Special Juan 28,141]

Think Chelsea fans do appreciate what Mata has contributed to this club but right now, it seems as if some are just completely dismissing that like it never even existed.

As for yesterday's happenings, just find it 'curious' that there are some who is quick to jump to conclusions and not really even looking at both sides of the coin to evaluate the whole situation in relation to the incident.

Well that would be very typical of people in this day and age.

I'm looking at it from all angles possible, I still keep coming up with the same answer.....He doesn't offer what Jose wants!!! So therefore he cannot be allowed to sit out games, the bloke is a top notch player and deserves to be playing football, he needs to leave for his own career if Jose does not see him in this system, which he doesn't.

[The only place to be 11,313]

@theonlyplacetobe wrote Why has he received crappy treatment? Jose just rates Oscar higher than him in the middle and Willian better than him on the right-wing. How on Earth is that crappy treatment?

And that's why I want him to join a club that would treat him with the level of respect he deserves. he's too good a playmaker to play second fiddle to anyone not named Iniesta,Ozil and Silva (possibly). Most teams in Europe realise this as he's very highly rated and he won't be having much regret if he moves in Jan or summer. so fair fucks

So you're upset that he's playing second fiddle to the guy who has been our best player all season.

Jose Mourinho thinks that Oscar is better for this club in the number 10 position than Mata. That's not being disrespectful.

[remains of the day 564]

@Peace. We’re pretty much on the same page. My point is that there's now this profit oriented aim in the club’s focus in investing on young players. The 12 million pound fee for Sturridge might seem like a steal now, but at the time he was sold, many (including Liverpool fans) thought that the club did well to get such a fee for a fringe player and one who was signed for only 4 mill. The fee for kdb is rumoured to be over 20 mill. We acquired him for 7 mill and he’s also never played any significant role for us. Given this, I would be very surprised if the club’s valuation of Mata isn't higher than 30 million and it’s not a stretch that a club would be willing to pay such a high amount to acquire Mata’s services. After all, we've seen many players go for exuberant fees in the transfer market.

@ I applaud you for calling Mata up on his petulant attitude to being substituted. No player is above the club and I personally tip my hat to you for having no tolerance for that kind of behaviour. But I think there is a point where our reaction to a player's attitude crosses over to an overreaction – and your post, I feel, is hovering over that point.

This same player you’re berating is the same player who said this………

“It’s a new thing, and I’m just trying to find the positive things in a hard moment,” he tells us quickly. “I always try to be a better player, no matter the manager that I have, so that’s what I’m doing right now – just trying to be better.”

and this…………….

“To be honest, I feel really loved by the fans,” he explains. “That’s what makes me feel strong, and I try to play my best because of them.”

And I could go on. My point is that if we put it into context, he’s been nothing but professional and has showed an exemplary attitude to his sudden fringe status in the team. To clarify, I’m not saying that Mata shouldn't be called up for allowing his frustrations to show while on camera nor I’m I excusing Mata for his petulant reaction. What I’m saying is that this is just one slip-up from a player who most would agree has handled his situation admirably. My issue with your post is that there seems to be sanctimonious tone of “how dare Mata kick up a fuss when he’s been nothing but average? Sit your ass down and know your place”. That could just be me making assumptions, but that seems to be the underlying tone of your post and to me that smacks of self righteous entitlement – this player has been nothing but humble and a model professional but because he had this one moment of weakness, you’re berating him and calling him childish? That’s an overreaction in my opinion. He's never once stomp down the tunnel when he's been substituted; he’s never once run to the Spanish press to bitch about not being selected for the champions league final unlike another player; he’s done absolutely nothing wrong but keep his chin up and attempt to remain positive in a situation that is undoubtedly a difficult one for him. How many of us could be so positive and not allow our frustrations to get the better of us if we were in a similar position?

Juan Mata has been a credit to this club on and off the pitch- players like him are very few and far between in football. Like Lionsend said, if the club decides to sell him, they'll be no shortage of suitors.

[lionsden 4,689]

So you're upset that he's playing second fiddle to the guy who has been our best player all season.

Jose Mourinho thinks that Oscar is better for this club in the number 10 position than Mata. That's not being disrespectful.

If you also share the same sentiments as Jose then why would you or anyone with that POV care whether mata leaves or not?. Oscar is superior playmaker to mata according to you and Jose, some people like myself disagree and believe he is too good to ride the bench so what's the issue. he should be allowed to leave for his own good then since we have a "better player" and are well stocked in his position right?