Mourinho convinces Mata to stay at Chelsea
telegraph
Spanish playmaker Juan Mata committed to Chelsea after talks with manager Jose Mourinho
Juan Mata insists he will be staying at Chelsea after seeking reassurances about his future this summer from manager Jose Mourinho.
The Spanish playmaker, who has been named Stamford Bridges player of the season for the past two years, was the subject of transfer speculation after Mourinhos appointment.
Mata has revealed he held a meeting with Mourinho to clarify his status at the club, and the 25-year-old is now fully committed to playing for the Portuguese manager.
Asked if he was surprised about the speculation over his future, Mata said: No, I was so relaxed about it. I spoke to the club and spoke to the manager who said I was very important to them. It was very good to hear.
"Everyone wants to feel they are important. So Im very happy. Im training with the new manager and we want to improve on last season.
Im really looking forward to starting the season with him, were really excited. Jose did a great job here a few years ago and I think we can do it again.
"Every manager is different and has his own kind of work. But in terms of intensity, the training sessions are so high. And the plan is to put that level of intensity into the games as well.
Last season I didnt have a pre-season. So for me I think the intensity is very high and its good to make the team competitive.
Matas desire to remain in west London is a huge boost for Chelsea, who are also confident David Luiz will remain at the club.
The Brazilian has also been linked with a move to the Nou Camp and Bayern Munich recently but any notion of a £45 million bid for the defender has been steadfastly denied, while Mourinho has no intention of selling him to the La Liga champions.
With Chelseas pursuit of Wayne Rooney ongoing, Mourinho is busily working behind the scenes to strengthen his squad ahead of the forthcoming Premier League season.
Mata is trying not to get distracted by any incomings but knows, having seen the evidence here in the United States in matches against AC and Inter Milan, that the likes of Oscar and Eden Hazard, who both arrived last season, are now ready to show their true worth.
Mata added: We just have to be focused. There are 25 players in the squad and it is not down to us who the club will sign. We are happy with the squad we have at the moment.
When you are playing more and more with your team-mates, you get more of a connection. Players like Hazard and Oscar came last season and this summer there are guys like Kevin De Bruyne and André Schürrle.
"All we need is the connection. I think we have a young squad. We have 25 players who are ready to play.
Real Madrid are next up for Mourinho, on Wednesday, in the final of the Guinness International Cup in Miami, less than three months after his acrimonious departure from the Bernabéu.
Sunday nights 2-0 win over AC Milan in New Jersey, thanks to goals from De Bruyne and Schürrle ensured the Portugueses youthful-looking side are continuing to impress here.
Mourinho said: My first time as Chelsea manager the age range of the side was quite high and we had players that were in the best moments of their career.
"It was a side which was ready to attack, who only needed a few small improvements. We could attack the present and think less about the future.
But this team is a very young team. We have lots of kids 21, 22, 23 who will get better every year.
"So I am not saying we dont want to win now because that is the nature of our club and my own nature but the reality is my job is different because I have a lot of young guys who I am not only preparing for this year but for the future too.
"Its a project and I am pleased to have this experience.
Juan Mata insists he will be staying at Chelsea after seeking reassurances about his future this summer from manager Jose Mourinho.
The Spanish playmaker, who has been named Stamford Bridges player of the season for the past two years, was the subject of transfer speculation after Mourinhos appointment.
Mata has revealed he held a meeting with Mourinho to clarify his status at the club, and the 25-year-old is now fully committed to playing for the Portuguese manager.
Asked if he was surprised about the speculation over his future, Mata said: No, I was so relaxed about it. I spoke to the club and spoke to the manager who said I was very important to them. It was very good to hear.
"Everyone wants to feel they are important. So Im very happy. Im training with the new manager and we want to improve on last season.
Im really looking forward to starting the season with him, were really excited. Jose did a great job here a few years ago and I think we can do it again.
"Every manager is different and has his own kind of work. But in terms of intensity, the training sessions are so high. And the plan is to put that level of intensity into the games as well.
Last season I didnt have a pre-season. So for me I think the intensity is very high and its good to make the team competitive.
Matas desire to remain in west London is a huge boost for Chelsea, who are also confident David Luiz will remain at the club.
The Brazilian has also been linked with a move to the Nou Camp and Bayern Munich recently but any notion of a £45 million bid for the defender has been steadfastly denied, while Mourinho has no intention of selling him to the La Liga champions.
With Chelseas pursuit of Wayne Rooney ongoing, Mourinho is busily working behind the scenes to strengthen his squad ahead of the forthcoming Premier League season.
Mata is trying not to get distracted by any incomings but knows, having seen the evidence here in the United States in matches against AC and Inter Milan, that the likes of Oscar and Eden Hazard, who both arrived last season, are now ready to show their true worth.
Mata added: We just have to be focused. There are 25 players in the squad and it is not down to us who the club will sign. We are happy with the squad we have at the moment.
When you are playing more and more with your team-mates, you get more of a connection. Players like Hazard and Oscar came last season and this summer there are guys like Kevin De Bruyne and André Schürrle.
"All we need is the connection. I think we have a young squad. We have 25 players who are ready to play.
Real Madrid are next up for Mourinho, on Wednesday, in the final of the Guinness International Cup in Miami, less than three months after his acrimonious departure from the Bernabéu.
Sunday nights 2-0 win over AC Milan in New Jersey, thanks to goals from De Bruyne and Schürrle ensured the Portugueses youthful-looking side are continuing to impress here.
Mourinho said: My first time as Chelsea manager the age range of the side was quite high and we had players that were in the best moments of their career.
"It was a side which was ready to attack, who only needed a few small improvements. We could attack the present and think less about the future.
But this team is a very young team. We have lots of kids 21, 22, 23 who will get better every year.
"So I am not saying we dont want to win now because that is the nature of our club and my own nature but the reality is my job is different because I have a lot of young guys who I am not only preparing for this year but for the future too.
"Its a project and I am pleased to have this experience.
