Juan Mata: I hope Andre Villas-Boas gets a warm reception at Chelsea

Juan Mata is hoping that Andre Villas-Boas will get a warm reception when he returns to the Chelsea dugout with Tottenham on Wednesday.

The Portuguese coach spent eight turbulent months in charge of the west Londoners before being sacked last March.

Villas-Boas took over at Spurs in the summer and travels to Stamford Bridge in midweek knowing that a victory will hoist his side up to fourth place in the table and level on points with the Blues.

And Mata, who was signed by Villas-Boas from Valencia in August 2011, was full of praise for his former boss ahead of the top-four showdown.

“[I hope he gets] a nice reception because he tried the best he could for the club, and for me personally he was the man who I came with,” said Mata.

“He gave me confidence, and I think he is a very great person as well. When I first came he game me confidence, he helped me to settle down. I think he is a great manager, and a good person for me.”

Mata has scored 19 goals and made 34 assists in all competitions for Chelsea this season.