Juan Mata

[The only place to be 11,313]

If they say thanks for his service but also turn around say stuff like he 'challenged' the manager, it completely negates their 'appreciation' of him.

No it doesn't. Not in my opinion anyway. You can appreciate what someone has done in the past whilst being critical of their recent behaviour.

[The Mak 4,459]

No it doesn't. Not in my opinion anyway. You can appreciate what someone has done in the past whilst being critical of their recent behaviour.

There's a difference between being critical and having an overreaction. @remains of the day, has pretty much summed it up.

[The only place to be 11,313]

@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.

And despite all that, he was the headline after yesterday's matches. He's a great guy, he's an intelligent guy but he had no reason for that reaction when you look at the context of the match and his performance.

There's a difference between being critical and having an overreaction. @remains of the day, has pretty much summed it up.

But now you recognise that you can appreciate someone's contribution whilst being critical of some of their behaviour?

[The Mak 4,459]

But now you recognise that you can appreciate someone's contribution whilst being critical of some of their behaviour?

...not when the criticism is disproportionate to the offence. When that happens, it seems like they're acting as if Mata is Marin.

There's nothing more I can say without repeating myself again.

[The only place to be 11,313]

...not when the criticism is disproportionate to the offence. When that happens, it seems like they're acting as if Mata is Marin.

There's nothing more I can say without repeating myself again.

Well we'll just have to agree to disagree. Mata got himself in the headlines yesterday and added fuel to an existing media narrative.

[AndersonBLUE 819]

Mata will have his moments this season. Mourinho said he doesn't want Mata to leave, several times now. That should be good enough for us and Mata himself. I still think he's the better no. 10 myself, but now our team philosophy/type of play is emerging, Mata doesn't fit it just right at the minute. Mourinho is obviously trying to improve him in the areas this team needs, but Mata isn't quite there yet. Willian and Oscar are more naturally suited to Jose's style, so they finding their feet quicker in the team, but it will take some more time for Mata.

Let's just evaluate the situation near the end of the season.

[Marvin123 530]

Mata should leave and become the main man at another club, he is absolute class act just not mourinhos style

I say straight swap for lavezzi

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

I love Mata and I understand his frustration and it doesn't bother me, but as I and others have been saying for a long time, he just doesn't fit the system Mourinho wants to play. It would be better for him and for Chelsea if we could sell him. He will be great for the team he goes to because he is a great player, but he doesn't fit this Chelsea team.

[Cech's helmet 220]

One question, does Silva track back/defend wth Man City? what about Ozil? Cazorla? Coutinho? Isco?

selling one of the best players in the world at his peak because he doesn't "track back" is the dumbest business deal in football history.

[Korea 734]

One question, does Silva track back/defend wth Man City? what about Ozil? Cazorla? Coutinho? Isco?

selling one of the best players in the world at his peak because he doesn't "track back" is the dumbest business deal in football history.

Silva does and he plays on the wings most of his time at City....

Ozil does and has played a lot of games for Arsenal on the wings.......

Santi does, but fails....

Coutinho doesnt, but like Mata, has physical limitations and is always injured...

ISCO a beast...

Selling Mata to raise funds so Mourinho can bring in one of his own players that fit his gameplay is the way it should be....

[Fulham Broadway 17,305]

Its not so much the tracking back as his inability to close down and win the ball back.

Willian, oscar, and Hazard are all adept at getting a foot in -Mata is lacking in this area. For the same reason he is not first choice in the Spanish national team, Xavi, Fabregas and Iniesta are superb at harassing, cajoling and winning the ball back. Until this area of his game improves, or we have a striker who scores for fun, its unlikely Mourinho will pick him above the alternatives.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

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...

Don't kid yourself, Mata's thrown him dummy out of the pram and he ain't getting it back any time soon.

We're going to have to agree to disagree. I'm really not happy about what Mata's done.

[Liquidator 5,176]

Personally I don't think he was trying to undermine Mourinho. He's probably just frustrated (as much with himself as Mourinho) and just did what he did in the heat of the moment. The overreaction here is a bit silly in my opinion. It isn't like he is constantly moaning, or dropping hints of his annoyance on social media. Up until now he has just got on with it and accepted his place on the bench which must be difficult considering how good he has been the last 2 seasons. It was a simple isolated incident.

I feel a bit sorry for him really. He is a player who always gives everything for the team and loves the club and the fans. It isn't that he's playing badly more just that he doesn't fit Mourinho's system. That happens in football sometimes. If he hands in a transfer request because he wants to leave in search of first team football in a World Cup year then the club should treat him and the request with the same respect he has shown the club throughout his time here and give him the best deal and opportunity to find a good club.

He shouldn't leave with any hard feelings and we shouldn't treat him in a negative way either. It is just part of football, unfortunately. He's a nice guy who in my opinion would always be welcome back and a great professional who would be a credit to any club in the world.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

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 fact he has visibly reacted in the way he did. If that isn't showing discontent, and thus challenging Mourinho's decision and ultimately his authority, then I'm not quite sure what is. His slamming down of the seat and his subsequent scowl and gesture - all after blanking the boss - is as bad as walking straight down the tunnel. If he wasn't moaning about Mourinho, then why was he gesticulating so fervently? Was he moaning about the rain?

Like I have already expressed, I have made my various points and I will stand by them. Up to other people if they want to act so butt-hurt over me challenging Mr Perfect. The club > any one player. I love Mata to bits but I'm not happy with his reaction, it isn't what I expect from one of our players. That's just my view. I want him to bounce back and get back into the team, but at the minute, he should be unhappy with himself rather than the boss.

[Alan Partridge 1,124]

Do not sell him to United! unless Rooney is part of the deal, which won't happen