It was a good results day for Chelsea FC as we beat Southampton 3-0 away, but on the sidelines it was a shocking day for Chelsea Football Club, Juan Mata reacted furiously to being subbed during the New Year’s Day clash between Pochettino’s Southampton outfit and Mourinho’s men.

The game had been a tight affair, with neither team able to really grab a hold of the game. When the changes came, early in the 2nd half, in fairness to the “Special One” the game needed a bit of tactical genius to change it. On 53 mins Mourinho sent on Oscar for Mata and Willian for Schurrle. What happened next may have signalled the beginning of the end for Juan Mata at Chelsea as the forward avoided Mourinho’s handshake, flung his arms towards the touchline where the boss was standing and he had to be calmed down for some time by Michael Essien who has issues of his own with Mourinho and his Chelsea playing time. Speaking about the Essien situation recently, Mourinho said as reported by Fox Sports, “I offer nobody – not Michael, not nobody (guaranteed playing time),” the Portuguese manager went on to say, “I understand that players think about national team, the World Cup and playing regularly, but my players have to think of the team before the players. Michael knows that perfectly.”

Chelsea went on to win the game 3-0 thanks to goals from Torres, Willan and Oscar who naturally vindicated the boss’s decisions – no surprise there then.

But the controversy really lies with Juan Mata – the two time Chelsea Player of the Year who could do no wrong among Chelsea fans and also winning the Players’ Player of the Year award over recent seasons – how can such a talented player not be appreciated or used by the boss? Mourinho has said that he is prepared to let Mata leave, he is happy to talk to Mata but he is clear in the fact that a departure date can be discussed for both Essien and most surprisingly Spanish international Juan Mata who surely many teams would be after. A host of teams in the Premier League like Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal would be queuing up for the Spaniard but Mourinho would surely never let him go to any of his immediate rivals. A messy divorce just looks on the cards as far as Mata is concerned and we could not be more disappointed as he is a would-be club legend who has done nothing but delivered quality and been a stalwart for the team.