Mata has magic to lift Blues
Mata was majestic once again as Chelsea made light of the supposed jinx that Everton held over them. David Moyes had lost only one of his previous nine meetings with the Blues from London but his side were brushed aside in what was a one-sided battle of Stamford Bridge.
It was fairly even before Daniel Sturridge put Chelsea ahead in the 31st minute but once John Terry made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, there was no way back for an Everton side badly missing the midfield creativity of Mikel Arteta.
Since the Spanish midfielder departed for Arsenal in the summer Everton have looked short of ideas, while by contrast his compatriot Mata has lit up Chelsea with his dazzling presence.
Mata is the magician Chelsea have been looking for since Joe Cole lost his form and fitness two seasons ago, and could go on to even greater things as the Blues’ playmaker.
When he was signed from Valencia for almost €30m, Villas-Boas was still desperately trying — and failing — to sign Luka Modric from Tottenham.
But the way Mata is playing, one has to wonder whether the little Croatian would have got a look-in at the Bridge. It was Mata’s clever pass, lofted like a lob wedge over Everton’s bunker mentality-defence, that allowed Ashley Cole to run and cross for Sturridge to head the first goal.
And after Terry headed in Frank Lampard’s free-kick, Mata set up the third, exchanging passes with Didier Drogba before driving in a low cross for Ramires to ram home the ball from close range.
Everton did at least get one goal back, when substitute Apostolos Vellios scored with his first touch , in the 81st minute, diverting Royston Drenthe’s low cross past Petr Cech from close range.
But it was Mata who had everybody talking.
“Mata has improved Chelsea the way David Silva has done at Manchester City,” said Moyes.
“He has given them a different dimension at the moment and they are more flexible now.”
Sturridge added: “Juan gives something every game and he runs so hard all the time. He creates a lot of chances and is a great acquisition.”
As for his own role in the team, Sturridge is finding his feet.
He added: “I’d say things have gone on progressively, but the dream remains to continue to play week-in, week-out; to continue to score goals; to win the Premier League; to win the Champions League. Those are dreams.
“I think at the moment I’m just playing regular first-team football. I can’t ask for any more.
“It’s important for my career, for my future, if I want to fulfil my potential that I have then I have to be playing. And it’s difficult if you’re not playing. But the manager’s given me the opportunity and I have to be thankful for that.”
With so much competition at the Bridge for forward positions, Sturridge, who starred for Bolton on loan last season, is also making do with a place wide on the right instead of his favoured central role.
He said: “I think a lot of clubs have world-class strikers and a lot of clubs have very good strikers.
“There are great strikers at every club in the Premier League and there’s always competition for places. It comes with the territory. It’s important for everyone to work hard in training and then it’s the manager’s choice to pick the team.
” It gives me a lot more freedom [playing on the right]. I can create a lot more for the team and I’m enjoying my football.”
He added: “I think I came back and maybe I’ve matured since I was at Bolton because playing regular first-team football does mature you and you become a much more well-rounded person.
“I think when I was here I was always upset and I was always down because I wasn’t playing. I didn’t love football as I do now.”
Chelsea’s second goal, scored by John Terry in first-half stoppage time. Up to that point, Everton were still in the game, and somewhat unlucky to be one goal down after the way they had defended.
Chelsea fans are delighted by the way their team are playing, especially Juan Mata. Everton fans started optimistically, but were resigned by the end that the home side were too good for them.
Juan Mata is growing in stature, with the sort of creative skills Chelsea have been crying out for.
David Moyes was constantly moaning to the fourth official about decisions, yet there did not appear to be anything too contentious to the neutral eye.
Everton’s Seamus Coleman didn’t get much joy out of Ashley Cole, but then very few do these days.
Chelsea have a Champions League game against Genk, which will give Andre Villas-Boas a chance to give the suspended Fernando Torres a runout. Everton are back in west London next Sunday, with a visit to Fulham.
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