Jose Mourinho has revealed in his comments that Juan Mata accept to play
as a winger if he is to break into the Chelsea first team alongside first
choice no.10 Oscar.
In comments that could increase the rift
between the Blues manager and fan favourite Mata, the former Real Madrid coach
called on the Spanish playmaker to improve or continue to find himself on the
bench.
Mata has played only three times this season,
and is still without 90 minutes on the pitch, with Mourinho preferring to use
Oscar as his main playmaker – much to the chagrin of the fans.
Buttressing his decision, Mourinho called on
Mata to change his game if he wants to get a look in.
‘It’s part of a process with [Mata],’
Mourinho said.
‘One thing is to play with Ramires and Oscar
in the side, and for them closing each side, and Mata as a number 10 behind a
striker, to have clever assists and to have clever passes; fantastic actions
because he has great talent.
‘Another thing to adapt to the way we want to
play. In this moment, Oscar is my number 10 and, if somebody tells me that
Oscar is not Chelsea’s best player since the beginning of the season, I’d have
to disagree. I want to build with Oscar as my number 10.’
Having being
frozen out when the Portuguese took over from Rafa Benitez at the end of last
season,Mata was linked with several clubs
including PSG in France and Tottenham.
The 25-year-old had distanced himself from
transfer talk, although Mourinho’s remarks could change things if a bid arrives
in January.
