Juan Mata, Ramires Deserve the Plaudits After Chelsea's FA Cup Semifinal Romp

Chelsea's old guard will no doubt dominate the headlines, but the real stars of their emphatic 5-1 FA Cup semifinal trouncing of Tottenham Hotspur were midfielders Juan Mata and Ramires.

The creative and resourceful duo were outstanding all game long and ensured the quality of Chelsea's play reached a level not previously seen this season. Mata in particular was the best player on the pitch.

The diminutive schemer conducted the possession play with classy touch and technique. Mata's control and skill on the ball routinely enabled him to glide through Tottenham's midfield and slide passes through a bewildered back line.

The former Valencia star simply toyed with Spurs midfield destroyer Scott Parker. Mata was wrongly rewarded Chelsea's second goal, after his fine strike on the turn was cleared well in advance of the line.

Yet rather than shrink in the face of genuine controversy, Mata continued to torment Spurs from a variety of positions. His subtle movement and quick thinking eventually yielded two fine second-half assists that killed the game.

The first of those decisive contributions was a crafty flicked ball to play in energetic Brazilian Ramires. The ex-Benfica man calmly lobbed former Chelsea 'keeper Carlo Cudicini to put Roberto Di Matteo's team 3-1 ahead.

The goal was a fitting reward or another typically accomplished, yet no doubt undervalued, performance from Ramires. When he first arrived in the Premier League, Ramires was greeted with mockery and derision.

During the first half of the 2010/11 season, he was regularly singled out as the weak link in the Chelsea team, often under the patronising label of "not being tough enough for the EPL."

However, Ramires gradually revealed the folly in this view. He has proven himself to be more than just a tireless runner. He is an intelligent box-to-box player with keen attacking instincts.

Ramires has been able to position himself in the role that Michael Essien used to perform so admirably, prior to his host of injury problems. In combination with Mata's ingenuity and flair, the drive and craft offered by Ramires destroyed Spurs.

Chelsea are all confidence and attitude. Since the departure of Andre Villas-Boas, the team has recaptured both. While veterans like Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba still lead the line, Mata and Ramires give Chelsea two players capable of real class.

They may well prove enough to see the club overcome their troubles this season and lift at least one trophy.