EFL Cup

Steve Holland: 'Jose Mourinho can transform Juan Mata'

By Matt Cotton, Reporter | 24 September 2013

Steve Holland says that Jose Mourinho can help Juan Mata improve at Chelsea in the same style that Cristiano Ronaldo improved at Real Madrid.

Chelsea assistant coach Steve Holland is adamant that Juan Mata should trust manager Jose Mourinho despite his limited start to the season.

The Spaniard has failed to nail down a first-team spot since the Portuguese boss returned to Stamford Bridge, and was linked with a move away from the club late in the summer.

Holland believes that Mourinho will help Mata to improve in a similar way to that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

"[Mourinho] is always pushing, pushing the players to the maximum every day," said Holland in a press conference. "That's evident not just in his teams, but in the individuals he's worked with.

"If you look Jose's three-year period working with Ronaldo, he's really evolved as an individual. He's not just a talented dribbler and runner with the ball who can score goals.

"He has become a top-level match-winner who wants to run in behind, make runs, threaten the goal. I don't think that just happens. That comes with pushing, even if it's the best. On a day-to-day basis, [Mourinho] will be pushing for signs of improvement, working to progress the individual but ultimately for the benefit of the team."

Mata will feature for Chelsea in Tuesday's Capital One Cup tie at Swindon Town.