Chelsea star to be given mid-season break

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo plans to give Juan Mata a break during the season.

Since a hectic finish to last season the Spain international has been involved in this summer’s Olympics and European Championship.

And Di Matteo admits that another full Premier League campaign without a rest would be too much to ask of Mata.

“He had a long summer but I will factor in a break for him at some point. It’s important,”said the Italian.

“He won’t be able to go through the whole year. We’ll have to play it carefully.”

Meanwhile, Di Matteo has refused to comment on reports Raul Meireles could leave Stamford Bridge to join former Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham.

He said: “There’s lot of speculation about players every day. As far as I’m concerned there’s not much I can say about it.”

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