Chelsea assistant manager Steve Hollands has applauded the performance of the recalled Juan Mata in their 2-0 Capital One Cup victory over Swindon Town on Tuesday evening.
The Spanish playmaker has largely been overlooked by Jose Mourinho this season, with the Blues boss insisting that Chelsea's player of the year from last campaign needs to adapt to a more defensive style.
Mata played a role in both of Chelsea's goals at the County Ground, but Hollands was equally impressed with how the 25-year-old stuck to his defensive duties throughout the match.
"The message to all of our attacking players from Jose from day one has been they need to contribute offensively in terms of their production and of course they have to contribute out of possession and defend," Holland told reporters. "That's been the challenge not just to Juan but all of our attacking players.
"In Juan's case, if you look at his performance here, he made Fernando's chance and was involved in the goal. Those two moments - goal-making and goal-scoring actions.
"And then in injury time he's conceded the final corner of the game supporting Ryan Bertrand in the left-back spot, which is how he was all night. Tonight, for sure, we're very, very pleased with Juan's contribution with and without the ball."
Mata has started just two Premier League matches for the Stamford Bridge outfit this term, with Mourinho preferring to employ Oscar in the former Valencia star's favoured number 10 position.
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