Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho: Juan Mata has to learn to play my way

Jose Mourinho insists he wants to play both Juan Mata and Oscar together despite omitting the Spaniard from his matchday squad for Saturday’s win over Fulham.

The Spain international started his first Premier League game of the season as the Blues were beaten 1-0 by Everton last Saturday before being dropped for the midweek defeat by Basel in the Champions League.

Mourinho’s men ended a three-game losing streak when Oscar and John Obi Mikel both scored after half-time to seal three points in the west London derby.

And the Blues boss revealed Mata must learn to adapt to the Portuguese coach’s desired style of play before becoming a regular fixture in the Chelsea first-team.

“I understand a lot of people – including [the media] – you like Mata in that position. I think the evolution of the team and the way I want to play them together,” said Mourinho.

He continued: “I want to play Mata and Oscar, but Juan has to work and adapt to a certain style of play because I’m not ready to change Oscar’s position.

“Oscar is a player at No10 who gives us great creativity. But at the same time, when we want to press up, Oscar is a runner.

“Juan has to learn to play the way I want to play, be more consistent. He has to be more sensitive when the team loses the ball.

“It’s not his fault. It’s a consequence of the way the team has been playing since he moved to Chelsea.”