What can Mata be, Jose?

PREMIER LEAGUE:

One of the 2012-13 campaign’s players of the season, the Spanish playmaker has so far only started two of the Stamford Bridge side’s six games this term. It was one of a number of primary criticisms brought up against Mourinho this week in the aftermath of the Champions League reverse to Basel, as his side lost a second successive game that compounded Chelsea’s worst start since Roman Abramovich took over. Defeat at home to Fulham would make it the first time in the Portuguese’s entire managerial career that he has lost three games in-a-row, as well as produce his first ever league loss at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho’s willingness to finally address the Mata issue in public could be seen as an attempt to deflect scrutiny from such a surprisingly poor early record, except for the fact the Portuguese creditably fronted up with every other question.