There is persistent speculation that Jose Mourinho is willing to dispense with the services of Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata but any logic behind the move appears flimsy, writes Adam Bate.
Thursday 18 July 2013 11:18, UK
Adam Bate struggles to find any logic in the belief that Jose Mourinho is not a Juan Mata fan.
"I know in Spain," said Jose Mourinho, as his time at Real Madrid ended in disarray. "Many people hate me." Given the persistent rumours regarding Juan Mata's future, maybe the Portuguese coach is so sick of his Iberian kin that he cannot bear the sight of them around Cobham either? It's a curious one. The reports that Mourinho simply 'does not fancy' Chelsea's star playmaker began to crop up even before his return to Stamford Bridge. The Blues continue to dismiss such talk but the speculation goes on. And such is Mourinho's reputation, doubts start to creep in. What is it that this world-class manager might have spotted that the rest of us are missing? The logic seems to go something like this. People recall the functional powerhouse that was Mourinho's Chelsea from 2004 to 2006. The side that steamrolled the Premier League, winning back-to-back titles and boasting a home record of 32 wins, six draws and zero defeats in the process. That side was built around a solid midfield trio that included Claude Makelele with two midfielders ahead of him. It was too much for English football to deal with. "If I have a triangle in midfield, Makelele behind and two others just in front," explained Mourinho, quoted in The Italian Job. "I will always have an advantage against a pure 4-4-2 where the central midfielders are side by side. "That's because I will always have an extra man. It starts with Makelele, who is between the lines. If nobody comes to him he can see the whole pitch and has time. If he gets closed down it means one of the two other central midfielders is open." As indicated by Mourinho's comments at the time, his strategy was a direct response to the standard 4-4-2 system that was so popular in England. Even famously progressive managers such as Arsene Wenger favoured a variant of the formation at that time. But the game has moved on - and Mourinho's tactics have developed too. The 50-year-old coach evolved his approach during his time in Italy, operating in a league where there is far more tactical variation between teams. Wesley Sneijder, a player not highly-regarded for his work rate or defensive awareness, became a key figure for the Portuguese, playing as a No.10. At Real Madrid, Mourinho constructed a team that smashed the Primera Liga goalscoring record - netting 121 times in their 2011/12 title-winning campaign. Here he utilised the considerable qualities of Germany international Mesut Ozil as his '10' - a player who, like Sneijder, is a creative rather than physical presence playing in advance of the midfield. The bargain buy from Werder Bremen was a revelation. "Ozil is the best No.10 in the world," said Mourinho last year. "From Luis Figo to Zinedine Zidane, I have seen everything. But I still stand by my position. He has amazing talent." That is not to say that Mourinho indulged his young playmaker. Ozil played the full game in just 27 of the 103 La Liga appearances he made during the coach's reign at the Bernabeu. And his manager even hinted that it had taken time for Ozil to adjust to his demands - and put an end to any doubts. "He stands out for the ease he has to assimilate new things," said Mourinho during his first season. "He has won us all over, fans and team alike."Mata v Ozil - 2012/13 League season | ||
Discipline | Juan Mata | Mesut Ozil |
Goals | 12 | 9 |
Assists | 12 | 13 |
Shots per game | 2.0 | 0.9 |
Chances created per game | 2.7 | 2.9 |
Passing accuracy | 85.2% | 84.1% |