Why did Jose Mourinho bench Juan Mata at Chelsea F.C.?
To add to Amit Mahajan’s answer, which is essentially correct, you have to consider the Oscar/Mata dichotomy that has divided Chelsea fans for as long as both have been around.First, you look at the positives of Mata - a dribbling, ball-aware tactician in the midfield with a will to win (he consoled Drogba after Chelsea went behind late in the 2012 CL final they would eventually win on penalties, grabbing his face and telling him “We have to believe”).Then you start to wonder, could Oscar offer all that and more? Apparently, Mourinho believed he could. As a younger player who was no doubt receptive to Mourinho’s coaching and thus gaining a status as a favoured son when picking lineups, Mourinho sought to mould him into an ideal player for his system - someone who could offer everything Mata could plus the defensive workrate he craved.In essence, this was the line of thinking that pushed Mata out of Chelsea when the right money came knocking, even to a direct title rival. Mourinho believed Oscar would pan out better in the long run. Has he? In my opinion, the answer is no, but like I said, the question often divides Chelsea fans and popular opinion can shift vastly week to week depending on his performance. I don’t think Oscar nor Mourinho is all to blame for this, however. The expectations of wearing the #8 for Chelsea as a young player, the insane amounts of games his legs have logged for club and country year after year all play a part in his underachievement.I would be in favour of selling him, but I don’t know if getting Mata back (should Mourinho sell him from United) would be the best thing either - Chelsea have always craved an industrious, Michael Ballack type since his departure. Matic was thought to surely be the answer after the title winning season, but this past season has definitely regressed. Nainggolan would be a dream if we could pry him from Roma.
Why is that Mata had a feud with Mourinho at Chelsea but not at Man Utd?
Eden Hazard. Younger, faster, unpredictable and flamboyant. Not as consistent at that time, but certainly showed more potential than Mr Dependable and two time Chelsea player of the year, Juan Mata. Displeased at being benched when pitted against arguably the best potential European talent in a long time, Mata sought greener pastures. However, as Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas have pointed out, Juan was and continues to be the most consistent performer in any squad he is a part of, regardless of the game time he gets ( Spanish National team) and makes no fuss about trivial things. He bore no grudge and neither did the Stamford Bridge faithful when he departed. He is still revered in the Shed End and his debut goal against Norwich City is fondly reminisced by every Pensioner. Also, Manchester United did pay a hefty sum for his services which he has repayed over the years with his impeccable scoring record and unwavering consistency. A model professional, through and through.As for José Mourinho, well, he's the Special One. The most fickle minded manager of all time.