Video: Goodbye Juan Mata - Tribute to 'El Mago'

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Juan Mata has travelled to Manchester to complete a medical ahead of his much publicised transfer to Old Trafford. I just wanted to take time out to thank Juan Mata from the bottom of my heart for everything he has done at Chelsea!

It’s easy to be bitter, it’s easy to focus on the negativity surrounding his move and it’s easy now to play on the fact that as Mourinho has explained in his press conference that he asked to leave the club, but I am choosing not to do that.

Instead, I want to celebrate the player and most importantly the man who has literally entertained us all for the last two and a half years!

I want to go on record right now to state that Juan Mata has the best first touch of a football of anyone I have ever seen in the game EVER!

From the moment Mata stepped onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge against Norwich and calmly picked up the ball just inside the box and slotted the ball into the far corner, he has been different class for Chelsea.

We often here people talking about Chelsea’s transition and the need for us to change from the playing style we had become accustomed to in the past ten years. If anything, as AVB tried and failed, as Robbie Di Matteo came and took over till he left us, even as the Rafa Benitez came, Juan Mata played a HUGE part in that process and the process of starting that transition.

Mata was the main man here for two years, the conductor of Chelsea’s symphony and as the Spanish call him “El Mago” (The Magician).

Picking a pass from nothing, turning people inside out, scoring free kicks, important goals or putting them on a plate for his team mates, Juan Mata has played an instrumental part in just how far we have come within our framework.

Some people may beg to differ and state that our league position will tell you otherwise in those seasons, but I suggest you look at the team, look at way we have changed our philosophy and the way we play.

Looking from the outside in at the man and you can only admire him. We see “some” footballers who live in the limelight or making headlines and Mata is totally different. Someone who appreciates his time away from football and someone who has quite literally fallen in love with London and his life here.

Someone who never had a bad to word to say about anyone, someone so humble and someone who always has spoken well to the press and the media. Juan Mata would rather let his feet do the talking.

Unfortunately under Mourinho it has not worked out and purely and simply because of the direction that club and the manager want to move forward in.

I wrote an article yesterday stating that Juan Mata is just a casualty of The Mourinho Way and that’s all there is to it (Read it if HERE if you haven’t, it explains everything on point!).

So Mata moves to Man United and starts a new chapter in his life and in his career. Mata leaves Chelsea with winners medals from The Champions League, The Europa League, The FA Cup and with TWO player of the season awards.

With a heavy heart we say goodbye to Juan and personally for him, I wish him good luck.

Thank you for everything you have always given to Chelsea when you have put that shirt on, thank you for the moments, the inspiration and for being a true gentleman and a scholar.

Juan Mata – Chelsea FC – 2012-2014.

Carefree & KTBFFH!