Thursday, 2nd January, 2014
Jose Mourinho denies he will ever pander to the interests of individual players, with Juan Mata and Michael Essien free to leave if unhappy.
Mata was visibly angry at being substituted in yesterday's game against Southampton, while Essien's agent has declared his client's intention to leave owing to poor game time.
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Mata, in fact, did not even shake Mourinho's hand when replaced, further fuelling speculation of a rift between player and manager.
Both players have had a stop-start season but have plenty of suitors, with Mata linked heavily to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan and Essien eager to try his hand in Italy's Serie A.
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However, Mourinho was quoted on ITV.com as saying: "I offer nobody – not Michael, not nobody [guaranteed game time].
"I understand that players think about national team, the World Cup and playing regularly, but my players have to think of the team before the players. Michael knows that perfectly."
As for Mata, Mourinho insists he is open to discussing the Spaniard's issues or see him to the club door.
"I want to keep him", Mourinho added. "I don't want him to go. That is my opinion, my wish, but my door is open.
"The club's door is open too so when a player wants to speak to us we are there waiting for them. If you are asking do you want the club to sell him? I don't want to."
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