Mata anticipates special Super Cup

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata said the UEFA Super Cup gives the Blues a ‘special opportunity’ to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet.

The Blues face Europa League winners Atletico Madrid in Monaco on Friday, a day after being drawn alongside Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and FC Nordsjaelland in the Champions League group stage.

The 24-year-old Mata won the FA Cup and Champions League in his first season at Stamford Bridge, and said he wants to build on that success by winning the Super Cup.

“A Super Cup is a special opportunity,” Mata told the club’s official website.

“It’s a Spanish team as well, a team where I have good friends. We’d like to add this trophy to our list of achievements.

“It’s very special, we want to win because of the team, the club. Winning the Champions League was a special moment and now we have another opportunity.”

The Spanish international was named as Chelsea’s Player of the Year last season and has already become a key factor to the strong start made by the Stamford Bridge side this term.

A resurgent Fernando Torres and new signing Eden Hazard have also been instrumental in the Blues perfect start to the league.

The former Valencia player has praised the match-winning ability of the Belgian midfielder, while also highlighting the quality of their La Liga opponents.

“Hazard is a good player, he’s fitted in very quickly,” the Spaniard added.

“He’s doing everything very well, has a lot of quality and can win a game on his own. We have a great understanding on the pitch already.

“We have big rivals, Fernando (Torres) knows them very well. They have a strong team, good strikers and defenders as well as quality midfielders.”