Juan Mata’s “unbelievable” 2012-13 season with Chelsea has left fans in awe after a compilation highlighted his incredible performances as an attacking midfielder.
Chelsea signed Mata from Valencia for a reported fee of £23.5m in 2011, with the Spaniard winning both the Champions League and FA Cup in his debut season.
Roberto Di Matteo had replaced Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea manager in the 2011-12 season and deployed Mata as an attacking midfielder rather than a winger.
Mata delivered a phenomenal return for Chelsea in the 2012-13 season, with the former Blues star turning his performances up a notch.
The 33-year-old attacking midfielder made 64 appearances for Chelsea in the aforementioned campaign and scored an impressive 19 times alongside his incredible assist tally of 35.
Chelsea finished the season in third place in the Premier League and secured the Europa League title, but it was far from smooth sailing for the Blues.
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Di Matteo was initially appointed as a caretaker manager in 2012 before becoming the permanent Chelsea head coach ahead of the 2012-13 season.
However, the former Chelsea manager was unable to build on his FA Cup and Champions League triumphs and was axed in November 2012.
Rafa Benitez was brought in as interim manager and steered the club until the end of the season, but a prime Mata remains a standout memory for Chelsea fans.
The compilation of Mata’s 2012-13 season with Chelsea left fans praising his “unstoppable” form and how he “really was magic for us.”
“No matter which team he plays, he'll always be Chelsea’s little magician,” one fan said.
While another commented: “One of the best CAMs the Prem has seen.”
A third wrote: “I STILL miss Juan Mata. He really was magic for us.”
And a fourth added: “Still one of the most creative players I have ever seen.”
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Someone else posted: “Loved him. If he stayed at the club, he would have reached [Gianfranco] Zola levels of legend status.”
Mata fell down the pecking order after the return of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 2013 and found his opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge.
The 2010 World Cup winner made his exit from Chelsea midway through the 2013-14 season and signed for Manchester United in a £37.1m transfer.
Featured Image Credit: PA/TwitterTopics: Juan Mata, Chelsea, Premier League, Football, England
Adnan Riaz