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Jose Mourinho insists Juan Mata is part of Chelsea's future - while Tottenham are 'kings' of the transfer market

The Spanish midfielder has found himself on the bench for key matches

Sam Wallace
Saturday 14 September 2013 10:52 BST
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Juan Mata has played just 65 minutes of competitive football this season but insists he is happy at Chelsea
Juan Mata has played just 65 minutes of competitive football this season but insists he is happy at Chelsea (GETTY IMAGES)

Jose Mourinho has repeated that the Spanish midfielder Juan Mata has a future at the club despite being left on the bench for both the Premier League game against Manchester United and the Super Cup final against Bayern Munich.

The Chelsea manager, whose side face Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow, said that Mata - who was not selected in the Spain squad for the last international break - would be given a chance like any other.

Mourinho said: "He's in the same plans as all the others. He's a player I like very much, that's why he's here. He is a player I trust a lot and will fight for position like everybody else. He will sometimes start, sometimes on the bench. He has to be [prepared to be] not selected like everybody else.

"The squad is competitive and with a match every three days I will make decision that may seem strange to your eyes. I make them because I think further than the next match and on to the ones to come and I will leave out an important player because I want him at maximum level for next match. I want the players to think only about next match. But I have to think further than that."

With the transfer window having closed since Chelsea last played, Mourinho said that he believed Tottenham had been the most successful over the summer in their trading of players. He said: "Tottenham are the champions [of the summer window] by a distance, by a distance. They bought seven players, international players for their countries, big countries, almost all of them. Tottenham were the kings of the transfer window. They have a fantastic squad."

The Chelsea manager also said that Everton could cope with the loss of Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United, having compensated with the signing of James McCarthy and Gareth Barry. He said: "They have a good squad, still. They did very well in the last days of the market.

"They got two very good players for midfield, with different profile, ages, future. Barry is good and experienced. McCarthy is a young player with a big projection. When you lose a good player but you sign two, I don't think that's a problem."

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