Manager Jose Mourinho has urged Juan Mata to prove he is worthy of a place in the Chelsea team.
The Spaniard was twice voted the club’s player of the year before Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge in the summer but has started just two of Chelsea’s opening five league games.
And Mata was omitted from the Blues squad entirely for the 2-0 win over Fulham along with Brazilian defender David Luiz.
Mourinho insisted both Mata and Luiz will play in the Capital One Cup game against Swindon on Tuesday night and said he would be delighted if Mata staked a claim for his place back.
“Juan will start against Swindon and I hope he tells me on the pitch ‘you are wrong, I am the best and you have to play me every game’ – I would love that,” Mourinho said.
“He has to be professional. The past is the past and what matters is now – we have to be judged on what we do now.
“I gave Juan the chance to play from the start against Aston Villa and against Everton, and 30 to 35 minutes against Basel.
“But I have my options and players have to prove that I am wrong. If he does that then I will be ‘the Happy One’.”
Mourinho added: “All the players who did not feature today will play against Swindon.
“Mata, Luiz, [Ryan] Bertrand, [Cesar] Azpilicueta, Michael Essien – they will all play.
“I have to strike a balance, even with my players on the bench. I have to have players to cover every position and I have that.”
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This post was last modified on 23/09/2013