Why Mourinho is RIGHT not to play Mata... but Hazard, Oscar and Willian could fire Chelsea to the title

EPL: Juan Mata is one of Chelsea’s best players. After winning the Blues’ Player of the Year award two years running, he is one of the favourite sons of the Stamford Bridge faithful. His attitude, cheery demeanour and - most of all - sublime skill brought an element of fantasy to Chelsea’s play so lacking in previous years.

Since Jose Mourinho’s arrival, however, things have gone a bit pear-shaped for the diminutive Spaniard. Whispers persisted all summer that the long-awaited return of the ‘Special One’ wouldn’t have quite such positive repercussions for Special Juan. Although the links with PSG and Arsenal didn’t materialise and Mourinho is insistent he doesn’t want Mata to leave, it remains inescapable that he is not the key part of the side he has been since his move from Valencia.