There is an instinctive reluctance at Stamford Bridge to lose their player of the season from each of his two full campaigns at the club, sentiment expressed publicly by Mourinho over recent weeks when the manager has been asked about Mata’s immediate future
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Mata, Chelsea’s player of the season in each of his two full campaigns with the club, has lost his integral role under José Mourinho this term and has found himself limited to 11 Premier League starts to date
And Mourinho was delighted with the Nigerian international’s display on his 300th appearance for the Blues.
“I recognise his ability to play as an anchorman, to play that position in a very comfortable way, with no mistakes,” said Mourinho of Mikel
Fitting, then, that Pep Guardiola is the best-paid football manager in the world, raking in £14.8 million per year
The 26-year-old star, who sat out midweek’s 4-0 victory over Steaua Buacharest in a UEFA Champions League clash, was for the second time not listed in Jose Mourinho’s 18-man squad against the Premier League strugglers
After a frustrating first-half, Oscar gave the Blues the lead just before half-time and Chelsea were looking comfortable midway through the second period
Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o made his debut in that fixture, but the 32-year-old striker was guilty of missing several chances
And although it is a match United will enter without a significant close-season signing – something they have been pursuing strongly – Moyes is still excited
Mourinho, when assessing the team before the Thailand trip, said the training had been to his liking
The former England defender led Chelsea when Mourinho was last at Stamford Bridge, with the club claiming two Premier League titles
To have any chance of success, Chelsea will have to pay a British record £53 million for Cavani and around £40 million for Hulk.
Mourinho’s first spell at Stamford bridge appeared to end under a cloud after an apparent breakdown in relations with owner, Roman Abramovich, but he insisted on Monday that there was no bust-up and that he would not be back at the club had the pair separated on bad terms
“It is our aim to keep the club moving forward to achieve greater success in the future and Jose is our number one choice as we believe he is the right manager to do just that
That is a commitment of around £50 million from owner Roman Abramovich for the second coming of The Special One
Mourinho, set to leave Real at the end of the season and rejoin Chelsea, was the first to get his marching orders after barking at the officials
He also accused them of being too soft in their treatment of striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored all four goals