Yes, it does Mata to us
Posted Friday, December 21, 2012 by The Sun
JUAN PLUS JUAN EQUALS TWO ... Juan Mata
JUAN MATA wants Chelsea to create history and become the first team to hold both of Europe’s top titles at the same time.
Rafa Benitez’s Champions League winners dropped down into the Europa League after failing to get out of their group.
The Blues start their Europa League campaign with a last-32 first-leg clash against Sparta
Prague on February 14.
And if they lift the trophy in the final on May 15, they will be the first European champs to hold both crowns — even if it is for just 10 days.
Spanish midfielder Mata, 24, took to Twitter after the draw yesterday to let fans know the Blues are serious about the competition.
He tweeted: “We face Sparta Prague in #EuropaLeague.
“The first step to reach our goal in this tournament: Become Champions!”
Interim boss Benitez has also insisted he will take the competition seriously, even though reviving Chelsea’s Premier League challenge is more important.
The Sparta Prague double-header will also be a huge occasion for keeper Petr Cech as he used
to play for them.
Blues club secretary David Barnard said: “No doubt he will fill us in on Sparta.
“It’s one of his previous clubs and his home town, so he’ll be looking forward to going back.”
If Chelsea beat the Czechs they will face Ajax or Steaua Bucharest.
Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar, who is now marketing director at Ajax, was shocked at Chelsea’s Champions League exit.
The former keeper said: “It’s a surprise for everyone. They’re 10 points behind in the league
and Benitez had a tough start.
“Let’s see in two months if he can steady the ship and maybe claw their way back into the title race.
“Hopefully, we’ll see them in the next round.”
Meanwhile, defender Branislav Ivanovic has told Chelsea to start winning ugly for Rafa. The
Stamford Bridge outfit were in eye-catching form at the start of the season under Roberto Di Matteo.
But the Italian’s tactics failed to get results and he was axed last month and replaced by ex-Liverpool chief Benitez.
Now Ivanovic wants them to get back to winning — even if it is not pretty to watch.
He said: “We know we are inconsistent and still building.
“It is important for us to win ugly as that develops belief and confidence in the players.”
Chelsea fought back to beat Leeds 5-1 in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday after some half-time words of wisdom from Rafa.
Ivanovic, who headed in their key second goal, added: “We made mistakes in the wrong positions and they scored.
“Rafa wasn’t annoyed. He saw what was on the pitch and knew we could do a lot better.”
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