Luiz and Mata MUST stay at Chelsea!

Any new manager brings with him a wind of uncertainty and upheaval, and despite protestations to the contrary, rumours are rife that the futures of both David Luiz and Juan Mata may lie away from Stamford Bridge. Both players gained massive plaudits this season from players and press alike, and it is being suggested that Chelsea would be willing to cash in on their stars as they don’t fit in with Mourinho’s vision for the team. Mata would be a massive signing for almost any top European side, while Barcelona are known to have been very interested in bring Luiz to Spain. I believe in Mourinho, but neither of these players can be allowed to leave.

Mata has been a revelation for Chelsea since signing two years ago. A €28 million Euro buy from Valencia, Mata has dominated since his first day at the club. In two years, he has featured in an astonishing 118 games, contributing 32 goals and a staggering 59 assists during that period. He is integral to how this team plays. Eden Hazard has the potential to create something out of nothing, but unlike Mata, he is not yet mature enough to take on the responsibility of controlling the game. He cannot orchestrate the Chelsea team from a central position in the way that Mata has done time and time again. I would be blown away if we were to even entertain the idea of selling Mata – he is far too good to let go.

While I’m reasonably confident there’s absolutely no truth in the rumours about Mata’s departure, I’m far less sure about the future of David Luiz. Luiz took some time to settle in at Chelsea, but he has played his way in to the team and last season became one of our most important players. His ability to play with the ball at his feet and initiate attacks with a quick change of pace is something very few strong centre-halves have, and it’s no surprise to see that his performances have caught the eye of Barcelona. Mourinho way well decide to offload Luiz if he feels the defender wants a move to Spain, but it would be of far greater benefit to convince the player that he should stay. Luiz has the potential to be a world class defender for many years to come, and we cannot rely on John Terry during another potential 60 game season. We must do everything we can to keep Luiz – he represents the defensive future of our club.