Juan Mata

[The only place to be 11,313]

This!

I really don't get it how some are actually being complacent because it's going good for us, and don't mind us selling him. What if we get an injury plague like Schalke, you want us to go back to the good ol' days (10-11 esp.) where we didn't have a strong bench. I def. believe that we shouldn't sell Mata at all costs because he's our own treasure, and you can feel from his vibes that he loves being a part of the club. The rotation policy that Mourinho is running atm. is wonderfully smooth, and I def. see Mata starting some of the upcoming games, besides, he's great friends with Oscar and I surely think that they mutually love the challenge of challenging and rotating for the same spot.

It's not about being complacent, but not being sentimental. We still have areas in the team that need strengthening and if an offer came in for Mata then it should probably be considered when he's not a key member of the first-team. We beat the best team in the land (in many people's opinion) with him on the bench.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Our other attacking mids are not great enough for us to sell Mata, they are all good but Mata is still the best and most effective of the lot in attacking positions.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Our other attacking mids are not great enough for us to sell Mata, they are all good but Mata is still the best and most effective of the lot in attacking positions.

Well Oscar seems to be doing a pretty good job this season, leading us to second place in the league.

[Jase 43,479]

Juan Mata: ‘During a bad moment you need friends like Fernando Torres around you’

An exclusive interview with Mata in the London Evening Standard as he promotes the new game of Assasin's Creed IV: Black Flag..

[carayip 15]

Our other attacking mids are not great enough for us to sell Mata, they are all good but Mata is still the best and most effective of the lot in attacking positions.

Well Oscar seems to be doing a pretty good job this season, leading us to second place in the league.

I seem to remember that at the same time last year Mata was leading us to first place in the league...

[Sheva. 5,373]

Well Oscar seems to be doing a pretty good job this season, leading us to second place in the league.

He has done well but we are 2nd because of our defensive workrate imo, because our attack has hardly been brilliant so far.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

It's not about being complacent, but not being sentimental. We still have areas in the team that need strengthening and if an offer came in for Mata then it should probably be considered when he's not a key member of the first-team. We beat the best team in the land (in many people's opinion) with him on the bench.

Mata is one of the best passers in the World and the player most likely to unlock opposition defenses. How about giving him some more time to find his place in this team before completely writing him off?

He loves it at the club, he's a consummate professional and he's one of the most charismatic and intelligent players in the League. Not only that but he's already proven how good he is the previous two seasons.

It's up to Mourinho AND Mata to find a way to integrate a player of his ilk into the team because they're incredibly. He's the player most likely to unlock tight defenses and is the ultimate big game player. As great as Oscar & De Bruyne are they don't have his vision.

[Stingray 9,441]

He has done well but we are 2nd because of our defensive workrate imo, because our attack has hardly been brilliant so far.

That seems to me more of a systemic thing, really.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Mata is one of the best passers in the World and the player most likely to unlock opposition defenses. How about giving him some more time to find his place in this team before completely writing him off?

I haven't completely written him off.

He loves it at the club, he's a consummate professional and he's one of the most charismatic and intelligent players in the League. Not only that but he's already proven how good he is the previous two seasons.

He's a great guy and he's been great for us, but we're a better team right now. I'm sure he can be part of the team going forward, but I expect we'll have success with or without Mata.

It's up to Mourinho AND Mata to find a way to integrate a player of his ilk into the team because they're incredibly. He's the player most likely to unlock tight defenses and is the ultimate big game player. As great as Oscar & De Bruyne are they don't have his vision.

I disagree that he's the 'ultimate big game player' because he's disappeared in plenty of matches, big and small. I also think Oscar has the potential to be as good as Mata and is already one of our most important players.

He has done well but we are 2nd because of our defensive workrate imo, because our attack has hardly been brilliant so far.

Defensive workrate - something Oscar has in abundance and Mata doesn't.

Also whilst our attack has hardly been brilliant, Oscar has been doing more than his fair share.

I seem to remember that at the same time last year Mata was leading us to first place in the league...

I'd argue we're a much better team now, with a proper manager in charge.

[Stingray 9,441]

I haven't completely written him off.

He's a great guy and he's been great for us, but we're a better team right now. I'm sure he can be part of the team going forward, but I expect we'll have success with or without Mata.

I disagree that he's the 'ultimate big game player' because he's disappeared in plenty of matches, big and small. I also think Oscar has the potential to be as good as Mata and is already one of our most important players.

Defensive workrate - something Oscar has in abundance and Mata doesn't.

Also whilst our attack has hardly been brilliant, Oscar has been doing more than his fair share.

I'd argue we're a much better team now, with a proper manager in charge.

I agree, hence my like for you. But somehow i keep feeling that it is doing disservice to a good trooper a bit. Oscar has done us well, but Mata has done us well longer, really well. Does that guarantee him (or Oscar for that matter) a future, no... But it does earn him respect (which I think the OP/TOPTB has a lot of) and a viable chance to be in a next generation Chelsea team. The real question imo is how we can do this in a good way and what he is willing to do for it. That will be the matter ethics, vision, identity ... throughout the entire setup - management to players.

The true Mourinho challenge. This issue was raised last year and the year before. IMO, is the way we treat our player/subs/loanees/youngsters , while performing. All that will pay huge tribute to what we will become as a club in the future.

But I think we can do it, and Mata could be a key figure in that, really.

[Rapkun 668]

I wish Mourinho had as much trust in Mata as he has in Oscar because he's massively underestimating him here.

Oscar is an automatic starter and would still make it in the starting 11 even if he peforms bad whereas that is not the same for Mata. He only gets to play after a great display and would get dropped as soon as he lowers his work-rate. Also, I don't feel like Mata and Oscar could play together because none of them is comfortable at the wings and unlike last season we have more options for those positions in Schurrle and Willian. Mata and Oscar are fighting for the #10 role, the latter is probably favorited because of his defensive work but he's nowhere near as good as Juan.

The spaniard has a great vision of the game. His decision making is quick and brilliant. He transcends our attack and organizes it especially when it is not on counters. People would agree we've only been good at that so far. Yes it has been successfull for the moment but only because we always scored first, things might be different if we were to concede.

[Billy. 2,742]

[Sheva. 5,373]

Defensive workrate - something Oscar has in abundance and Mata doesn't.

Also whilst our attack has hardly been brilliant, Oscar has been doing more than his fair share.

He's done his fair share getting goals, actually more than his fair share because he made up for Lamps and our strikers not scoring.

But he's also a CAM, and meant to be our primary playmaker, yet he has 0 assists in the league. And it's not like he has created abundance of chances for people to miss either.

Only time we look good in attack is when we counter or Torres takes matters into his hands and dribbles his way through. Everyone can do better, but mainly Oscar since it's his job to dictate our play.

Anyway, my original point wasn't even about Oscar and Mata but you turned it into that. Having Mata around is good for us because he's a player with tremendous quality in attack. He doesn't have to start every game, but he can still play a major part for us.

[Korea 734]

People seem to forget that the tactics are a lot different for Oscar than they were for Mata last year....

[Jase 43,479]

Juan Mata interview: Chelsea fans' love and Jose Mourinho's prodding made me better and stronger