Juan Mata delighted to see Chelsea leapfrog Tottenham into third

Juan Mata has expressed his delight at seeing Chelsea leapfrog Tottenham back into third place in the Premier League table following Sunday’s win over West Ham.

Goals from Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard gave the Blues a 2-0 win over their London rivals – and Spurs’ surprise defeat by Fulham allowed Rafael Benitez’s men to capitalise.

Sunday’s win came on the back of Chelsea’s Europa League last-16 triumph over Steaua Bucharest on Thursday and Mata was thrilled to see the Blues head into the international break in good form.

“It’s been a great week, with our fans enjoying two important victories in the last two games,” Mata wrote in his blog on grada360.com. “First of all, perhaps the most exciting one was on Thursday, against Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League.

“The second victory of the week was on Sunday, in our derby against West Ham. Still in our minds was the tough defeat in Upton Park [earlier in the season], and we knew it would be a difficult game.

“That’s why we started at full speed since the very first minute. We played a good game, creating chances and finally getting three points to climb up to the third position in the Premier League, after Tottenham’s defeat.

“It was really important to start the international break with a good feeling.”

Mata also reserved special praise for veteran midfielder Lampard, who netted his 200th Chelsea goal on Sunday.

He added: “Probably the best moment of the match was Frank Lampard’s header, his 200 goal as a Blue! It’s amazing!

“Congratulations to him, [he has] my respect and admiration for [and] is a living legend of our club, and of European football.”