Juan Mata insists he is playing the best football of his career.
The Spaniard was in sensational form for Chelsea last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting in 12 more during the course of the Premier League campaign. He also played a key role as the Stamford Bridge club triumphed in Europe, winning the UEFA Europa League to add to the UEFA Champions League success of the previous term.
Despite this, Mata has been linked with a move away from the capital since Jose Mourinho succeeded Rafael Benitez in the summer. It has been suggested that the Portuguese coach is not convinced with the former Valencia magician, and was even prepared to offload him as part of the proposed transfer for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.
However, the window has now been and gone, and although the Old Trafford club, along with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris St Germain, were said to be interested in Mata, he remains at Chelsea. And now the 25-year-old has reminded Mourinho that instead of considering offloading him, he should take note of his recent form.
“I’m happy here,” Mata told Chelsea TV. “It’s been a very, very good two seasons for me here, maybe the best of my career, and what I want this season is the same. I’m looking forward to achieving as many trophies as we did the last two seasons and hopefully this is going to be a good season for us again. My only aim is to play here, grow as a player and do as good a season as the last two which were amazing for me.”
Mourinho continues to insist that Mata is a key player for the Blues, and that a thigh problem has restricted his involvement this term. The midfielder has made just one appearance in the Premier League this season, in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa, yet now he is staying at the club, he is sure to feature more prominently.
