Jose Mourinho explains why Juan Mata left Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has revealed that he never wanted Chelsea to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United in January, with  United manager describing Old Trafford as a natural habitat for the playmaker.

The Spaniard was sold by the Blues to the Red Devils in 2014 while Mourinho was in charge at Stamford Bridge

It was widely anticipated that Mata would be moved on when the Special One arrived at Old Trafford in the summer.

However, the midfielder has been a regular in the side, scoring twice in six games.

He said: "I didn't sell (him). My job is not to buy and sell. My job is to work on the pitch and advise my board about the transfer policy. He was one that asked to leave and, when a player asks to leave, you have always to think twice.

"My idea of football with the squad I had at Chelsea and the objectives we had at Chelsea is one thing, and the football I want to play at Man United, the profile of my squad and what I want to try to do in this club, is a completely different situation.

"In my project at Chelsea he was a good player, and in my project at Man United he's a very good player.

"The football we want to play here is different and I think it is very adapted to his qualities. I think he found a very good natural habitat to his football to play with us."