Oscar busy proving Jose right

Chelsea 1 Stoke City 0

If the evidence of the first game of the post-Mata era at Stamford Bridge is anything to go by, it looks like the manager got it right.

The exit of Mata, player of the year for the last two seasons, has divided opinion among supporters, particularly as the next time they see the Spaniard, he will be lining up for Manchester United.

Mourinho, though, remains convinced Oscar more closely fits the profile of his ideal playmaker and the Brazilian responded with the match-winning free-kick and an all-round display that helped ensure Mourinho marked his 51st birthday with a place in the FA Cup fifth round.

The winning goal in particular highlighted the gap in quality between the sides that the scoreline largely disguised. Stoke were frustrated at the decision that led to the goal — Erik Pieters’ challenge on Samuel Eto’o barely merited punishment — but Oscar’s execution was superb, curling his shot over the wall and beyond Asmir Begovic.

Mata will not be quickly forgotten here, but he will soon become a footnote if Oscar continues to develop in this way.

“I’m sorry I didn’t make Juan happy, but football is football,” said the Chelsea manager, who offered a clear indication about where Mata will fit in at United.

“I build a team around Oscar in that position and, on the sides, the other people are doing very well. Juan is not comfortable on the sides. He did quite well and tried very hard on the right side, but it’s not his natural habitat. So when United come in and tell him he’s going to play in his favourite position, and he wants to go, he goes.”

This was Chelsea’s seventh successive win and with Nemanja Matic making his first start since returning to the club in a £21m move from Benfica and Mohamed Salah having concluded his move from Basel, Mourinho’s confidence at the rate of his team’s progress is understandable.

This was not one of their most destructive performances but, having got themselves ahead, there was never any doubt they would win. The woodwork denied Oscar and Eden Hazard but Stoke’s response was so limited, it was never likely the misses would prove costly.

“It’s a bit of a contradiction because we played so well but won with a free-kick,” said Mourinho. “Usually you win by scoring amazing goals in free play, and we had some fantastic play. Fantastic individual moments. The free-kick makes us happy because he trains for that. It’s good to see a player dedicate time every day after training on a specific thing to score a beautiful goal like that. So it’s not a point of somebody playing badly and losing goals with an open goal.

“Fantastic actions, great shots, the two actions that hit the post were brilliant actions. The boys played very well. The last 10 minutes, when we hadn’t scored, everything was open at 1-0 and they were direct and tried to put pressure on us, but we controlled the game from first minute.”

Stoke manager Mark Hughes had few complaints, although had his side maintained the positive approach they showed in the opening 27 minutes before Oscar’s goal, they might have had greater reward.

Instead, the lack of pace in their forward line was exposed, a matter the manager hopes to remedy today when he concludes a swap deal that will take Peter Odemwingie to the Britannia Stadium from Cardiff in exchange for Kenwyne Jones.

“As far as I’m aware, it should go through,” said Hughes.

“We’re pleased to get Peter in. He’s a good Premiership player with experience at this level, a goal in him and a bit of pace, which we need to add to the squad.”

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer 6; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 7, Luiz 6, Cole 7; Lampard 6, Matic 8; Schurrle 6 (Ramires 70,6), Oscar 9 (Willian 82,6), Hazard 8; Eto’o7 (Ba 84,6).

STOKE (4-2-3-1): Begovic 8; Cameron 7, Shawcross 7, Wilson 6, Pieters 6 (Muniesa 84,6); Palacios 6 (Assaidi 72,6); Arnautovic5 (Adam 83,6), Ireland 7, Nzonzi 7, Walters 6; Crouch 6.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).