Juan Mata
This has been the big talking point. A World Cup, European Championship, and Champions League winner has not been deemed working hard enough by Mourinho. Assistant coach Steve Holland stressed the importance of pressing the ball ahead of the match. It is exactly what Mata did for the 90 minutes.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official site, Holland said,
“Tonight, for sure, we’re very, very pleased with Juan’s contribution with and without the ball.”
Mata was also doing what he does best (assisting others) when he was not defending. His performance is sure to give Mourinho a selection headache ahead of the visit to Tottenham.
Key stats: two shots, one key pass, and 95% pass accuracy
Verdict: It was a solid performance from the Spaniard.
Rating: 8/10