Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez hailed Juan Mata as one of the league’s best players after the Spaniard struck a crucial winner in his side's 1-0 over Norwich on Boxing Day.
Despite not hitting the heights of the 8-0 thrashing dished out to Aston Villa last Sunday, Chelsea were the better side in a game that lacked any sustained quality.
Mata struck from 25 yards in the 38th minute to settle the match and condemn Norwich to a second defeat in four days. And Benitez said: “He is playing really well. Even without the ball he is working hard but when we are in possession he is making the difference, I always say the same; if the team are playing well these players can make the difference.
“I think the Premier League has a lot of good players and Mata is one of the best for sure. He can be even better. Mata is a player who is dangerous, inside the box and outside the box.
“We knew that was a difficult pitch, They (Norwich) won against Manchester United and Arsenal. It was tough, but I was really pleased with the performance of the players. The team are showing character. I am really pleased with the workrate and the style of play.”
The Canaries failed to truly test Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech over the course of the game as the Blues moved to within four points of Manchester City in the table.
Benitez left Frank Lampard on the bench for the trip to Norfolk amid speculation he will leave Stamford Bridge next summer. But the former Liverpool boss was bullish about the future of the midfielder and fellow England star Ashley Cole, who is also out of contract at the end of the season.
“From my position it is very easy, it is a private conversation between Frank and the club and that is it,” added Benitez. “He is a good player and I would like to bring the best from him, that is my position.
“I don’t know if Ashley has had the conversations or not but, for me, they are players under contract, good players.”
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