Mourinho Sell of Mata to Manchester United is likely to Backfire Him

Short-termism: A disease which persistently afflicts politicians approaching an election, bankers rushing headlong towards bonus season and football managers facing the axe. On the face of it, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho fits into none of these categories. So just why has the Portuguese agreed to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United?

Mata is a player appreciated across planet football. The Spaniard doesn't divide. He is universally recognised as a very talented attacking midfielder, able to wreak havoc on opposing defences and, more often than not, a striker's best friend. Raw statistics can make Mata's case – as Chelsea toiled in the Premier League last season he provided assists in 48% of the games he played – but simply watching his exquisite close control, silky swivels and measured passing make the case in a far more beautiful way. Scouts have not needed to consult reams of information to work out that Mata is a top quality player; just a tightly gripped match ticket, ears alive to the team announcement and 90 minutes of concentration have been more than enough – repeat visits not required.

Of course, Mourinho has long seemed to have issues with Mata. They started the moment the Portuguese walked through the door at Stamford Bridge for his second spell. Many theories have abounded about why Mata isn't quite Mourinho's cup of tea. He doesn't track back enough, he disregards tactical instruction, he isn't as effective on the counter attack as Eden Hazard, Oscar or Willian. Yet, no matter the reason, selling the former Valencia magician to Manchester United makes no sense at all. Mourinho should know the golden rule: Don't strengthen teams who can threaten your side domestically.
 

The rule book was followed by Manchester United in the summer, as they steadfastly refused to let Wayne Rooney join Chelsea. Even Liverpool's American owners, despite their love for 'moneyball', or perhaps just profit, knew enough to forbid Luis Suarez from moving to Arsenal. By selling Mata to a Manchester United reeling from one crisis to the next, Chelsea are throwing a rope to an angry drowning man with a gun, a man who would use that gun on the very one to throw him the rope. It makes little sense, unless viewed from a short-term perspective.

Mourinho has waited until after Chelsea played Manchester United for the second time this season before ushering Mata out of the exit door and towards a helicopter heading for Old Trafford. The Blues boss is well aware that the Red Devils have fixtures coming up with those teams Chelsea may legitimately consider title rivals this season. He even wished them well following his side's 3-1 victory over David Moyes' men. "They will [recover] with their pride and tradition and fight and hopefully they win against the other contenders because now we do not play against them in the league", Mourinho commented.

The Chelsea manager's decision to sell Mata at this moment in time has already set the cat amongst the pigeons, causing an annoyed Arsene Wenger to call for changes to the transfer window; the Arsenal boss did much the same last season when Newcastle brought in a raft of players in January. "They could have sold him last week but it opens at least the opportunity [to question] the dates of this transfer window", blasted Wenger. "Some teams have already played twice against one opponent and some others not. I think if you want to respect the fairness for everybody exactly the same, that should not happen."

If Mata stirs a Manchester United revival then they could potentially do Arsenal and Manchester City damage, allowing Mourinho's Chelsea to put in a stronger tilt at the title. But can the Portuguese really not see beyond May? Old Trafford is gripped by crisis. Not only does David Moyes increasingly resemble Roy Hodgson at Liverpool, demoralising his players from the touchline by showing himself visibly crushed by every bad turn of events, but he has been unable to introduce the fresh blood needed, with real doubts over his suitability for the role. Transfer targets snubbed Moyes in the summer, turning their backs on moving to Manchester United in a way which is unlikely to have happened under Sir Alex Ferguson.

If the Red Devils miss out on a Champions League spot this season then things will only get worse. It is fine making £100m available for transfers, but spending it on world-class players, shopping at the very top end of the market, becomes hard outside the Champions League. Just ask Tottenham Hotspur, who now look to have squandered their Gareth Bale inheritance. By selling Mata to Moyes, Mourinho allows the Manchester United manager to validate his transfer policy. Mata is a beacon to other top players that a move to Old Trafford is still worthwhile. Beyond that, he might just inspire the champions to steal into fourth place, meaning Manchester United really will get bang for their buck in the summer. Any way the cake is cut, it's hard to conclude Mourinho's thinking is anything but short-term.

And the ultimate losers may be Chelsea. Mata may not be missed, but helping to arrest the decline of a club which have dominated English football for over 20 years will ensure another fierce rival for the Blues. Had Atletico Madrid or Barcelona been struggling in La Liga, desperately in need of a goalkeeper, would Real Madrid have sold Iker Casillas, even when he was persona non grata for Mourinho? The Portuguese wouldn't have even got his foot through president Florentino Perez's door.

There may be more to the Mata deal than meets the eye, a desire on the part of Mourinho to help out Ferguson, a man he admires and perhaps feels symphathy for, as he watches on, helplessly squirming in his leather-backed seat in the directors’ box. But the Blues boss has got this one wrong. And when a recharged Manchester United face Chelsea in 2014/15, with Mata pulling the strings, Mourinho will realise short-termism isn't all it's cracked up to be and he shouldn’t have thrown in the rope.