Juan Mata

[Jase 43,479]

Michu on Mata..

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/09/michael-laudrup-chelsea-jose-mourinho

Arguably Laudrup's most important act as Swansea manager was completing the signing of Michu for just over £2m last summer. The Spaniard has gone on to score 27 goals for the Swans and been rewarded with his first call-up to the Spain squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia.

The 27-year-old placed on record his thanks for Laudrup, telling the club's website: "It's because of Michael Laudrup that I am here. He is one of the best managers I have ever worked with in my life."

He also revealed Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has been helping him adjust to life in the squad. "I feel like I am annoying Juan Mata as I am always asking him about the training and the new experience," he said. "Mata is helping me a lot, I know him very well. I can't describe the feeling when I went into the pitch wearing the shirt of the best team of the world."But it is very easy to play with all these players. The players who are in the squad are the best in the world and they're at the maximum level."

[The_Flash 1,144]

Wish Michu was at Chelsea

[The Skipper 20,609]

Wish Michu was at Chelsea

Another attacking midfielder at Chelsea? Right...

[The_Flash 1,144]

Another attacking midfielder at Chelsea? Right...

But he can score goals, if only the midfield is going to score, we need to fill ours right up

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea star Juan Mata given thumbs down by PSG fans

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

Chelsea star Juan Mata given thumbs down by PSG fans

Now that's bad journalism...

He got the thumbs down because people voted for Iniesta over him? What an absolute non-story.

The results were as follows:

Iniesta 58%

Mata 30%

Sergio Ramos 6%

Casillas 6%

[mac.bo 48]

Hope Mata beats last years stats for goals&assists or Jose has failed to improve him simples...

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

Hope Mata beats last years stats for goals&assists or Jose has failed to improve him simples...

Not really, he'll play less than last year due to depth

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Not really, he'll play less than last year due to depth

And due to the fact that last year we had a record number of matches...Not to mention that he was our main man last season in a 4-4-1-1, while this season we actually have a system built for the whole team and not just one player.

[bushman 2,043]

Mata has been playing less than last year, I agree. After Jose " improved " him, he should be playing a lot more, in my view.

After all, we already seen his play, recently.

[mac.bo 48]

I'd rather see Mata score more and assist more than track back more and tackle more , leave that work to players that are not as gifted as Mata,its 1 thing to try to improve a player its another taking away the most creative player in the team and blunting his talent. In my humble opinion we should be building team around him!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I'd rather see Mata score more and assist more than track back more and tackle more , leave that work to players that are not as gifted as Mata,its 1 thing to try to improve a player its another taking away the most creative player in the team and blunting his talent. In my humble opinion we should be building team around him!

That is an unfortunately frequent misconception. There aren't two groups of players in a team one responsible for attack and the other for defense. When you have a proper system, you attack as a team and, perhaps more importantly, you defend as a team. Meaning every single one of the eleven players has a defensive duty. That's how you get the most out of your team.

As for building a team around him, I think it is best that we build a team on a footballing philosophy rather than around a player. What happens if he gets a long-term injury or hands in a transfer request? A philosophy lasts for years and provides stability and consistency regardless of who comes and goes.

[mac.bo 48]

I think if you have watched Mata the last few seasons you would have seen his fair share of track back and defending,if he got injured or put in transfer request then there is Oscar, we have to utilise his creative input as much as possible as he is the best in the premiership at this.As for the last statement about philosphy etc .bollocks.

[Tomo 21,751]

I'd rather see Mata score more and assist more than track back more and tackle more , leave that work to players that are not as gifted as Mata,its 1 thing to try to improve a player its another taking away the most creative player in the team and blunting his talent. In my humble opinion we should be building team around him!

If Jose wants a high pressing game, then every single attacking player is going to have to play their part, as great a player as Mata unquestionably is, Jose is not going to scrap his plan to accommodate one player. Del Bosque doesn't do it so why should Jose? speaking of Del Bosque, maybe with more pressing to his game, Mata might actually play more games for Spain, as they play with high pressing like we are intending to do.

If a few less goals and assist's for Mata coincide with the team as a whole improving and getting better results, then quite frankly that's fine. The club/team come before any one player.

[carayip 15]

Chelsea star Juan Mata given thumbs down by PSG fans

Now that's bad journalism...

He got the thumbs down because people voted for Iniesta over him? What an absolute non-story.

The results were as follows:

Iniesta 58%

Mata 30%

Sergio Ramos 6%

Casillas 6%

The fact that he got 30% of votes over the other 3 world class players looks more like a thumb up for me lol.