Jose Mourinho: Leaving Juan Mata out of Chelsea line-up is painful

Jose Mourinho admits it “hurts” him to leave Juan Mata out of his Chelsea line-up but insists he is making the decision with the team’s best interests at heart.

The Spaniard’s first-team opportunities have been severely restricted this season, with the 25-year-old having been limited to just 11 Premier League starts.

Mata’s future has been a source of relentless speculation in recent days after Mourinho admitted that the “door is open” for him to leave the club following Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Southampton.

It’s not an easy situation for him not to be playing every time

Jose Mourinho

And Mourinho insists that he would love nothing more than the playmaker to find top form for the west Londoners.

“I try to do my job forgetting I’m a soft heart, pretending that I’m a hard heart,” said Mourinho.

“Many times it hurts me, not just with him, with decisions I have to make.

“But I think to do my job in the best way, thinking the team more important than any player.

“When I have to make a decision I always try to be a cold one, icy, analyse the situation and try to make the best decision for the team [and] putting the person secondary.

“But yes, it hurts me. He’s a good kid, he works hard, [it’s] not an easy situation for him not to be playing every time.

“He started matches in the Premier League, had lots of minutes on the pitch. I love it if he does well. That’s what I want.”