Transfer news: Juan Mata admits he is happy at Chelsea despite falling out of favour after speculation over a deadline day move to PSG
Mata has played just 65 minutes of competitive football this season but insists he wants to win more trophies with the Blues
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Your support makes all the difference.Juan Mata has admitted he has no desire to leave Chelsea despite widespread speculation that he is set for a move away from Stamford Bridge due to not being seen in Jose Mourinho’s future plans.
Mata was linked with a deadline day move to Paris St-Germain and Arsenal – who eventually signed Mesut Ozil for a club-record £42.5m – but a move failed to materialise. However, Mata insists his focus is on Chelsea despite falling out of favour with Mourinho having played just 65 minutes of football this season.
"I think it's normal in every transfer window that there are lots of rumours but 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."
Mata joined the Blues in 2011 and quickly became a hit in west London, with his attacking style and creative footwork leaving fans in awe of his ability. He went on to be named the club’s player of the year for the past two seasons, but he has since fallen down the pecking order after Mourinho’s return.
The Blues signed Marco van Ginkel, Andre Schurrle and Willian in the summer, while Kevin De Bruyne returned from a loan spell to give the Portuguese boss an array of talent to select his usual three attacking midfielders from.
Both Eden Hazard and Oscar have started every game of the new campaign, while Schurrle and De Bruyne have alternated the central attacking midfielder position. Mata started the second game of the season against Aston Villa, but he was replaced by the German after 65 minutes with the scores at 1-1 and has since been left on the bench in every match.
Talk of a move to PSG surfaced on deadline day with the two clubs believed to be in advanced talks after the LIgue 1 champions saw Ozil choose the Gunners over a move to Paris. Chelsea London rivals were close to signing Mata before he joined the Blues, and they have maintained an interest ever since, with manager Arsene Wenger identifying the 25-year-old Spaniard as having the perfect technique for his style of attacking play.
For now though, it seems the former Valencia star is determined to fight for his place in Mourinho’s side.
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