The Chelsea faithful were shocked when Jose Mourinho chose to sell Stamford Bridge star Juan Mata to Premier League foes Manchester United, and then follow that up by allowing David Luiz to join European rivals Paris Saint-Germain – but the move could very well award the Blues the title at the end of the season.
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Chelsea’s John Terry in subtle dig at Manchester United star & ex-Blue Juan Mata
John Terry hailed his boss for selling the pair, telling the Sun, “You look at some of the world-class players we’ve had, Juan Mata, David Luiz, players like that who’ve left the club.”
“He’s seen something — I don’t know what — to let those big players go. He also knows when players take their foot off the gas.”
The most interesting of the Blues skipper’s comments is his revelation that he doesn’t know what it was that made the Portuguese sell the star players – but the reason’s clear – they were not good enough to deliver the Premier League trophy back to Stamford Bridge.
While the duo were arguably pivotal in Chelsea’s Champions League success; the truth is that was a title won through determination and, let’s face it, luck. Albeit Ramires’ chip over Victor Valdes in the semi-final, and Didier Drogba’s bullet-header in Munich were of world-class quality – but the football they played was not characteristic of a world-class side. In fact, for most of the competition, it made for painful viewing.
David Luiz was a player that left Blues fans terrified every time he stepped out onto the pitch, despite his talent, while Juan Mata, twice Chelsea’s Player of the Year, is not on the same level as international team-mate Cesc Fabregas.
Unlike rival Arsene Wenger, whose selling of Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie within two seasons is still questioned, in spite of banking the club a healthy sum, Jose Mourinho’s selling of the Brazilian and the Spaniard was about more than just money; they were expendable.
Mourinho needed better – and new signings Fabregas, Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa may well have provided that missing piece of the puzzle.