The 23-year-old Mata, who could make his debut at home to Norwich on Saturday, believes he will suit the style of play favoured by the Chelsea manager, André Villas-Boas. "He said he wanted Chelsea to play more attacking football this season, and that I would be a big part of that," Mata said.
"Villas-Boas is someone who won almost everything last year and we are both here with the idea of winning lots this season. The plan is that I can play on either flank or even in the middle playing in between the lines of midfield and attack. I like to keep the ball and use it well, I am an attacking player and above all I like to set up goals and score them also."
Mata said he "never imagined himself leaving" Valencia but only agreed as the offer was too good for the Spanish club to pass up. "I spoke with [president] Manuel Llorente since I wanted to know if the offer was a good help for the club in economic terms," said Mata, who captained Valencia last season. "I came in at zero cost and I leave a lot of money behind."
Mata becomes the third Spaniard to join Chelsea this year, following the £50m purchase of Torres in January and Oriol Romeu, who arrived from Barcelona earlier this month.
"Right from the first moment there have been good feelings all around me," Mata told the official Chelsea website after training with his new team-mates for the first time on Wednesday. "Training has been great and the players are a great group to train with. Valencia was a big club anyway but I have left to join a bigger club and it is all about the opportunity to win trophies and I have that here."
Guardian
