Juan Mata must follow Cristiano Ronaldo's example to get back into Jose's plans
Steve Holland revealed that Juan Mata "knows the score", and that the Spaniard must work hard and adapt
Neville Williams
Juan Mata was today told he must learn from Cristiano Ronaldo's example - and play himself back into Jose Mourinho's good books.
Mata, Chelsea's Player of the Year for the past two seasons, has been dumped from Mourinho's starting side in favour of Brazilian playmaker Oscar.
The Spaniard, alongside David Luiz, will return to the line-up at Swindon in the Capital One Cup tomorrow after Mourinho said he must adapt his game to force himself into contention.
And Mourinho's number two Steve Holland today reinforced the message by pointing to what happened under Mourinho at his last two clubs, including Real Madrid.
Holland said: ''Juan is a top professional footballer with a fantastic attitude. He trained yesterday and there's not a great deal to be said to him. He knows the score.
''If you look at Jose and his teams, certainly the last team at Real Madrid with Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema, there were four quality players as an attacking four.
''When the balance is loaded offensively, you don't just play with the ball but without it as well. He managed that at Real, clearly, given the results he had.
''With Ronaldo, if you look at the three-year period under Jose, he's evolved as an individual.
''He's not just a dribbler, but a top level match winner who can run in behind, make runs and threaten the goal. That comes with pushing, even pushing the best.
''I'll always remember the game against Inter Milan when Jose was their coach.
''We saw the team before the game, with Pandev, Milito, Eto'o and Sneijder as a front four, three strikers and a No10, a very creative team to play Chelsea away, and yet they defended like Trojans.
''I've never seen such attacking players work so hard. Eto'o played on the wing that day. Jose's quite clear in his mind what is a recipe for success. He feels that's the way forward for us again this year.''
Holland added: ''Having to adapt - and Jose has used that phrase - is nothing particularly new here.
''Going back to Carlo Ancelotti's team with Malouda and Anelka playing behind Didier, with three soldiers in midfield, Lampard had to adapt and get out to defend against full-backs because Anelka didn't do that.
''Sturridge and Mata had to chase the full-backs under Andre. That changed under Roberto, where Kalou and Ramires played wide, more soldier roles.
''And that changed again a bit last year with Rafa, with Oscar wide.
''Juan's role was the No10. It's another adaptation that's required. Juan has shown in his time here that he's more than capable of doing that.
''Jose has his own way, but he's hard working like the others, his attention to detail is second to none.
''With Jose, as a difference, he's pushing daily, pushing the players to the maximum every day.''
Mata, Chelsea's Player of the Year for the past two seasons, has been dumped from Mourinho's starting side in favour of Brazilian playmaker Oscar.
The Spaniard, alongside David Luiz, will return to the line-up at Swindon in the Capital One Cup tomorrow after Mourinho said he must adapt his game to force himself into contention.
And Mourinho's number two Steve Holland today reinforced the message by pointing to what happened under Mourinho at his last two clubs, including Real Madrid.
Holland said: ''Juan is a top professional footballer with a fantastic attitude. He trained yesterday and there's not a great deal to be said to him. He knows the score.
''If you look at Jose and his teams, certainly the last team at Real Madrid with Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema, there were four quality players as an attacking four.
''When the balance is loaded offensively, you don't just play with the ball but without it as well. He managed that at Real, clearly, given the results he had.
''With Ronaldo, if you look at the three-year period under Jose, he's evolved as an individual.
''He's not just a dribbler, but a top level match winner who can run in behind, make runs and threaten the goal. That comes with pushing, even pushing the best.
''I'll always remember the game against Inter Milan when Jose was their coach.
''We saw the team before the game, with Pandev, Milito, Eto'o and Sneijder as a front four, three strikers and a No10, a very creative team to play Chelsea away, and yet they defended like Trojans.
''I've never seen such attacking players work so hard. Eto'o played on the wing that day. Jose's quite clear in his mind what is a recipe for success. He feels that's the way forward for us again this year.''
Holland added: ''Having to adapt - and Jose has used that phrase - is nothing particularly new here.
''Going back to Carlo Ancelotti's team with Malouda and Anelka playing behind Didier, with three soldiers in midfield, Lampard had to adapt and get out to defend against full-backs because Anelka didn't do that.
''Sturridge and Mata had to chase the full-backs under Andre. That changed under Roberto, where Kalou and Ramires played wide, more soldier roles.
''And that changed again a bit last year with Rafa, with Oscar wide.
''Juan's role was the No10. It's another adaptation that's required. Juan has shown in his time here that he's more than capable of doing that.
''Jose has his own way, but he's hard working like the others, his attention to detail is second to none.
''With Jose, as a difference, he's pushing daily, pushing the players to the maximum every day.''
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