Chelsea's Jose Mourinho conundrum

It’s all happening! This has by far been the craziest and the most pulsating season of English Premier League since its inception. The going has been so tough that we’ve had half a dozen exodus of managers and a team at the top during Christmas was no. 5 on New Year’s day prior to kick-off.

In this intense race to the Premier League title, despite playing some inconsistent football Chelsea were hardly threatened to be knocked off their place in the top four. For the first time since Carlo Ancellotti’s tenure as manager, Chelsea managed to get 40 points in the August- December phase of the season.

Some times you need more than inspiration, self motivation and a club legend to lead you to ultimate glory and change the culture of the club. Sometimes, all you need is just luck. Chelsea got a bit of everything and an overdose of some things in a package that’s a special one. Jose Mourinho.

The impact of Jose is pretty staggering. No, I am not going to talk a lot about his man managerial skills, his buyings, his witty quotes, the hypocritical statements or his subtle digs at opposition that the English football and media missed all the while. His decision to confine Mata to the bench regularly, and yet grind out results is proof enough to highlight the special Happy One’s impact. He makes the players and fans believe on his tactics and management. Imagine the outrage that could have happened if Rafa Benitez treated Mata like Jose did.

He has made fans see Mata differently. Fans who lapped up Mata are now openly stating in various groups and forums about the need for Mata to step up his game as he, sometimes, slows down the tempo of the game due to his lack of pace. That’s what Jose Mourinho can do. He comes, makes Chelsea’ s player of the season for two years seem a mediocre player; which can be extrapolated to the fact that Chelsea fans have actually settled for mediocrity.

Jose’s decision and his philosophy/culture that he is trying to infuse is pretty much taking shape. It has made us fans, think of our liking towards a player who will start for any top club but is just not fit for Chelsea under him. While Mata doesn’t give the ball away easily and is good at finding the free man on the pitch, he isn’t good at tracking back or winning duels.

Take the Southampton game at St. Mary’s for instance. In the 40 mins he played, Oscar made 5 – FIVE successful tackles. The substitution made a lot of sense. The team does work better around Oscar than Mata.

The buying of Willian and Schurrle along with playing Oscar as a predominant number 10 has proved to be fruitful. You have to give it to Jose. Coming back to the Southampton game yesterday, where Mata visibly seemed pissed off at Mourinho substituting him, gave the fans a lot to ponder about and food for the tabloids to harp about.

To be fair, Mata wasn’t making much of an impact. And he definitely doesn’t win the ball like Willian and Oscar do. The substitution was made. The effect was there for everyone to see. There are very few people who can change the course of a game so decisively and consistently like Jose Mourinho.

Mata is very similar to David Silva, in terms of creating opportunities and lacking the defensive ability. Even Ozil is the same breed of player. However, the current Arsenal no.10 did his part more often than not, which doesn’t seem to be the case with Mata.

Mata isn’t showing the form he had the last two seasons and is playing the ball a lot to the sides and the two pivots instead of driving the ball forward on his own. He could have shifted to a more central position yesterday but stuck to the right wing most of the time. It also has to be mentioned that he is showing improvement defensively– he has made vital interceptions and tackles but lacks the thrust and work rate of Oscar or Willian.

What Mata lacks is the ability to balance his performance with the ball and without it. With Willian and Oscar, one of them can easily drop deeper and when the field is open, they move forward and attack. Mata lacks that vital energy.

He is a professional. He is a world class player. He blogs. He has this captivating charm– an aura — about himself that makes Mata a fan favourite. But the reality is right in front of us. For the first time since Mata moved, Chelsea are real title contenders and just 2 points off the top despite lacking finesse and a prolific striker.

It’s no rocket science but to conclude that whatever Jose is doing/trying to do, seems to be working. As a fan of the club, no matter how cruel and tough it is the club is always bigger than a player.

This is exactly what Jose said after the win over Southampton- “I don’t want him (Juan Mata) to go, that is my opinion and that is my wish – but my door is open. ‘The club door is open too, so when a player wants to speak with us we are there waiting for them. But if you ask me do I want to sell him, I don’t want to..“

Juan Mata’s situation now, is akin to that of Joe Cole in Jose’s previous tenure at Stamford Bridge. Joe Cole came out trumps after a rather unsettling start under Jose. Mata has to trust Jose. As much as we fans hate to see the Spaniard leave, I don’t mind Chelsea selling him for good money because the Blues have the JM that matters most and it’s not Juan Mata.