After it was announced yesterday that a deal had been agreed to take Juan Mata from Valencia to Chelsea for a fee of around €26m, WhoScored analyses just why the Spaniard was so hotly pursued by the Londoners.
Chelsea were rivalled in their bid for the 25-year-old by competitors from the capital in Tottenham and Arsenal, with the player stating: "It was also a question of sporting achievement, not money. Arsenal and Tottenham were both interested in me but they did not compare with the Blues. I want the Premier League title and this is possible at Chelsea."
With Andre Villas-Boas looking set to continue in Ancelotti's tactical footsteps before him in terms of his familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, it remains to be seen as to where Mata will fit into the line-up. However, a comparison of his stats against last season's 3 regular attacking midfielders at Stamford Bridge last season proves he has the quality to slot straight in.
The Spain international is equally comfortable from a wide left position or centrally, meaning the likes of Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard will undoubtedly be seen as direct competition. However, Malouda's capability to play from the right means that Nicolas Anelka may well be in line for the chop, unless he is preferred as the lone striker in rivalry with the likes of Torres and Drogba.
Mata's Distribution Tops Chelsea Trio
The young Spaniard's ability to create chances was undoubtedly a key feature as to why Villas-Boas harboured such a strong interest in the Valencia man. Chelsea's Malouda (4), Lampard (2) and Anelka (4) picked up just 10 assists between them last season, while Mata managed to contribute 12 on his own in La Liga.
He set up a team mate once every 215 minutes in the league last season, just under 2 and a half matches, while the Chelsea trio's figures left a lot to be desired. Anelka's 4 assists came at a rate of 1 every 591 minutes, while Malouda's 703 and Lampard's 1013 minute assist rates were even worse, signalling a weakness in Ancelotti's system.
Mata made triple the amount of assists as Malouda last term despite making fewer key passes per game (2.24 - 3.1)- indicative of the quality of his final ball. His score in this regard is well suited to Chelsea's statistics, marginally bettering the combined average key pass per game rate of the 3 Chelsea men of 2.23. An excellent 86% pass accuracy also shows that his distribution and competency to keep the ball fares well against the Blues' players, whose average pass success rate between them is just over 82%.
Chelsea Trio Turn Tables in Goalscoring
While Mata's passing is unquestionably adept in comparison to the analysed Chelsea attackers, his confidence when it comes to taking on players and shooting may need a little work. Playing 17 games from wide last season, Mata completed just 1.1 cross per game- way down on Malouda's 2.1 but bettering Anelka's score of 0.7 -with the Frenchman not as comfortable on the wing as his compatriot on the opposite flank. Mata's total equals Lampard's score from last season in the same regard, though his figure is greatly increased due to set-piece duties.
The impending newcomer is also down on the trio's average of 1 dribble per game, successfully beating an opponent just 0.7 times a match- better than Lampard's meagre 0.3 but down on Malouda and Anelka's respective efforts from wide, meaning he may need to up the ante in this regard. Mata is also a little shot shy in comparison to his potential new teammates, with his figure of 1.6 shots per game from last season just below Anelka's 1.7 and Malouda's 1.8 and considerably down on Lampard's 2.3.
His tally of 8 goals for Valencia last term also just fails to rank up to the Chelsea men, who netted 29 goals between them in the league last term- an average of 9.7 each. The talented playmaker may well get significantly more chances to shoot at Stamford Bridge, meaning his shot rate and goal tally could well improve, while it was already better than Anelka's fairly average figure of 6 goals from last season.
Anelka Most Likely for the Chop?
Having analysed his stats against the current recruits at the London club, one could be safe in assuming that Nicolas Anelka may well be fearing for his already unstable position in the Chelsea side the most. Mata's statistics were greater than the France international's in 6 of the 8 categories analysed and his more natural wing play should earn him a starting place.
With 4 of Malouda's stats leading the way, his position in the side could be safe while a decision to drop Frank Lampard would prove a brave one due to the 33 year old's cult status at the club. Whoever plays, Chelsea's attacking line-up may be a more clinical one with the inclusion of their imminent new signing!
