Jose Mourinho claims Juan Mata is staying at Chelsea

Aug 4, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati (32) makes a save on Chelsea forward Juan Mata (10) during the second half at Metlife Stadium. Chelsea won the game 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

With Chelsea in Prague for their crucial UEFA Super Cup match with Bayern Munich in a rematch of the past two Champions League winners, Jose Mourinho took the time to claim that Juan Mata is not going to be sold from the London club despite the rumor mill floating around the Spanish midfielder’s name.

Mourinho’s reluctance to play Mata in Chelsea’s first three games of the season, playing just 65 minutes in a midweek fixture against Aston Villa through three EPL matches in 2013/14 had the English tabloids tapping Mata as the favorite to leave Chelsea for more time on the pitch,

United and Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger said this week that Mata is a player he admires, have been linked with a move for the Blues No. 10. Still Mourinho says that they will have to deal with not getting Mata on their club as he says that the Spaniard is staying put.

“This is now a tendency that everybody speaks and asks about players who don’t play,” Mourinho told a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Bayern Munich. “He didn’t play against Manchester United, that was my option.

“I always have reasons for my options. I feel it is my duty to explain to the players my options, I don’t think it’s my duty to explain to the media.”

Mourinho says that despite Mata’s lack of caps that he and all of his Chelsea players understand that they might not be placed in the Starting XI each and every week.

“Everything is clear between me and the player, we have no problems. He is a very important player for us. He wants to stay, I want him to stay. So there is no story. We don’t only have a lot of players who can play in the position behind the striker. There are a lot of players who can play wide. You go to every big team and there are many options, people competing for positions.”

Chelsea will be playing tomorrow night in Prague (2:45 EST in North America) where Mourinho will be looking to stay undefeated in his second reign as Chelsea manager. “The Special One” cautiously guided the Blues to a Nil-Nil draw against Manchester United but will be facing stiffer competition in FC Bayern who are the top club in European football at the moment.