adminLONDON. — Jose Mourinho has told Juan Mata he can quit Chelsea after the midfielder’s furious reaction to being taken off during the New Year’s Day 3-0 win at Southampton.
Mata ignored his manager when he walked off the pitch at St Mary’s and then slammed a seat in the visiting team dugout. His replacement Oscar, who was booked for diving, then made two and scored one in Chelsea’s comprehensive 3-0 victory. Mata has won the club’s Player of the Year award for the past two seasons and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for 2012-13. But Mourinho has now indicated that he will not stand in the Spaniard’s way if he wants to leave Stamford Bridge.
“I don’t want him to go, that is my opinion and that is my wish, but my door is open. The club door is open too, so when a player wants to speak with us we are there waiting for them. But if you ask me do I want to sell him, I don’t want to. I didn’t see the reaction, his frustration was because of the result, we have to win. If we don’t win this game then the difference to the leaders is bigger.
At the end of the game everyone including, him, was celebrating the victory.” With one last look in the mirror, Oscar slipped out of the dressing rooms and shimmied across the red carpet at the main entrance to St Mary’s. It had been an Oscar-winning performance.
The great shame is how all this came about, from Mata’s tantrum when he was replaced by the Brazilian midfielder in the 53rd minute to the goals that changed the direction of the game. — Mailonline.
Online Reporter