Mourinho is starting a war that he can't win! Former boss Gullit lays into Chelsea boss over dropping of Mata

Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit has warned Jose Mourinho he is starting a war he cannot win by his treatment of fan favourite Juan Mata - just as he did at the Bernabeu when he was the coach of Real Madrid.
Midfielder Juan Mata was one of the stars of Stamford Bridge last season, winning the player of the year award at the club for the second successive season.
But Mourinho has been far from convinced of his worth since he returned to the dug out and astonishingly dropped him from the match-day squad altogether against Fulham. 

Awkward: Jose Mourinho watches his team take on Fulham as Juan Mata and David Luiz look on

Gullit said the Special One is in danger of starting a war by taking on a fan favourite and brilliant player - just as he turned on Cristiano Ronaldo in Madrid.
Speaking on Sky Sports Gullit said: ‘I really had my doubts about Jose coming back to Chelsea, even four months ago.
‘It’s not easy doing something twice. I had my doubts because the fact is at Real Madrid he didn’t manage to do the things that made him so strong at Chelsea, his man-management didn’t work.

Frozen out: Mata has not even made the bench for Chelsea's home match against Fulham

‘He had difficulties there so he tried to start a war that he couldn’t win. Then Chelsea came along and he tried to get out of there.
‘But he is already at war with players who have already played really, really well for the club
‘He’s not here to nurture, he’s here to win and nosthing else. He has the same drive, the same eagerness, but can he do it?
‘Everyone knows him know, the tricks he does to wind you up, everyone knows him and the Premier League changes. For that reason it is far more difficult to win.’

No holding back: Former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit has warned Mourinho that he is making a mistake by dropping Mata

Defending his decision to drop Mata out the squad altogether, Mourinho told Sky Sports: ‘It is about 18 (the squad against Fulham) and about 11 (the starting team). We have 24 (first-team squad). I start with Oscar because I think he is more consistent with more good perfomances in attacking areas. I have Willian on the bench in the same position and Mata has to fight.’
Mourinho also dropped popular Brazilian David Luiz for the game against Fulham.
‘(Dropping) David is a simple tactical decision. I didn’t like his game against Basle. After a few defeats we need some stability positionally but especially emotionally. I think John (Terry) can give us that.