Jose Mourinho Heeding Lessons of January 2014 Transfer Window and Juan Mata Exit

Jose Mourinho knows how to make the best out of a bad situation.

All eyes were on the Chelsea boss when he took his pre-match press conference on Friday, the first time he had addressed the media since he was charged by the FA for comments regarding referees.

The media blackout had to end, eventually.

"Don't tell me you missed me, man," he said to a room full of journalists, holding his arms in the air like a humble pariah wondering what all the fuss was about.

"It's only been a week."

The tone of what followed was inevitable. It was all questions about the FA, referees and what Mourinho did or did not say to Phil Dowd after the New Year's Day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Talk of ins and outs at Stamford Bridge were a trending topic, too, and Mourinho gave some interesting insight to his transfer policy.

"I do not want to lie to you," he said. "Last year you asked me and I didn't lie to you. [Juan] Mata was sold and we had to react to that.

"I'm happy with the boys, we have a good group. I'll be happy if nobody leaves and nobody comes."

It was Mourinho leaving the door open. There wasn't confirmation that any of the rumours surrounding his club have substance, but nonetheless, it was the manager politely refusing to rule anything out.

Referencing Mata was an interesting choice.

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In his first six months at Chelsea, Mourinho made a point of weeding out the haves and have-nots in the squad he inherited.

The debate raged on about Mata—was he suitable for the system and work ethic Mourinho was trying to instil? Was he too good a player to leave?

We soon found out.

Now, we're seeing the same process repeated. Since the summer, Mourinho has made a point of pushing the buttons of his players to see how they would react to his methods.

Who's still capable? Who's going to establish themselves?

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Some have been dropped completely at times, others suffering the ignominy of being hooked at half-time after poor performances.

It's a layered strategy—first for tactical reasons, but also to get a response from his team.

Of all those, Andre Schurrle stands out.

After an encouraging debut campaign in the Premier League, and an even better World Cup, he's fallen way off the pace with Chelsea.

Mourinho's wagon is riding into the distance, and the German hasn't been able to get back on after it hit a bump in the road and he fell off.

There are always casualties along the way as managers chop and change to find their balance. Now Schurrle seems to be following in Mata's footsteps.

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Both are phenomenally talented, but replaceable nonetheless.

Last season it was Oscar playing through the middle that kept Mata out of the Chelsea team, proving Mourinho's point. This year it's Willian doing the same to Schurrle.

Mata may have been Chelsea's Player of the Year for two seasons running, but his output wasn't what his manager required. He wanted to press teams in their own half and defend from the front—things Mata wasn't quite cut out to do.

With his wingers, Mourinho wants goals, assists and the same defensive discipline Oscar has shown at times.

Willian gives that to Chelsea on the right, whereas Schurrle has failed thus far.

The German has been guilty of lax marking when Chelsea have conceded, and now the goals have dried up, too.

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Poor performance has followed poor performance. Schurrle is struggling.

The lesson Mata's sale to Manchester United has taught us and Mourinho is that losing squad players mid-season isn't always a bad thing. If the money's right, it can be used to speed up recruitment elsewhere, allowing for swift investments.

It happened last year, with Nemanja Matic being signed with the money from Mata.

As he looks at his squad now, Mourinho will be targeting where the reinforcements are required in the summer.

To Schurrle's detriment, it's his place that is looking weakest right now.

Happy? Yes. But thrilled? Mourinho set a precedent at Stamford Bridge last January, and it's clear he intends to follow it.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.