Juan Mata: 10 Reasons Chelsea's New Signing Will Bring Them Premier League Glory

On Sunday, Chelsea officially announced that a deal had been reached with Spanish club Valencia CF for their superstar winger Juan Mata.

The deal is now subject to Mata passing a medical exam and agreeing on personal terms with the club before it becomes official, both of which are expected to happen within the next few days.

With Chelsea already sitting two points behind the two clubs of Manchester, the signing could not have come any sooner. The Blues have looked stale and lacking on the offensive front, very similar to how they ended last season. Andre Villas-Boas' promise to bring an attacking mentality through 'flair' and creativity has yet to be fulfilled.

With the transfer window closing in a week, the new boss had yet to make a signing that would have immediate impact on the field. Fans were beginning to question whether the team that lost out last year would be able to overcome their limitations and recapture the league.

But all of that now seems mute with the arrival of Mata. Villas-Boas has his first big signing, the fans have a new face to look forward to and the team has 10 reasons why he will lead them to glory in the league.

A Winning Pedigree

Perhaps even more important than being able to play is being able to win. Greatness is often not judged by how well you perform on the field, but how many championships you take home. Mata has the pedigree of winning deeply rooted in him.

He began his career at the Madrid youth academy. To be a part of Madrid in any regard instills you with a tradition of being the best. He may have not ever played with the likes of Ronaldo, Raul, and Zidane, but the fact that his career was birthed in the same attitude that these players had toward the game gives him the idea of what it takes to win.

Furthermore, he himself has a few trophies to show off. In his first season with Valencia he netted two goals in the semis of the Copa del Rey against Barcelona, eventually leading them to the championship game which they won. He also was a part of the 2010 Spanish World Cup squad.

Even though he has yet to win the league with Valencia, his arrival has seen a steady ascent by them up the table from season to season. Two years in a row they finished third. In some leagues, that may not seem all that worthy of recognition, but in La Liga, where Barca and Madrid are so far beyond the rest, being the best of the rest is quite an honor.

A Top Prospect

At only 23 years of age, he has already established himself as one of the great prospects in the game. Any time Madrid chooses you for their academy, it is assumed that you have something to show.

At the U-19 World Cup in 2006, he would help Spain to glory with four goals in the five games. But Mata's real coming out party was at the UEFA U-21 Championship in 2011.

Mata took the tournament by the reigns and guided Spain to their third title. In doing so, he would be awarded the bronze boot (two goals), was the top assisting player and was voted to the all-tournament first team.

He also went the distance in four of the five games (he was subbed out in the 89th minute against the Czech Republic, with a comfortable 2-0 lead).

What that tournament did for him was set him up with a future as a player who would make a career out of creating opportunities for others.

Passing Ability

Chelsea does not need scorers. Between Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba, and Fernando Torres, they have 284 goals in 665 Premier League matches. They have all had off seasons, but it is highly unlikely that all three will slump at the same time.

However, a good striker is always reliant on a supporting midfield to deliver the ball. For years, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien were those players, but with Essien out for an extended time and Lampard not quite looking his normal self, the forwards have struggled to score without that inch perfect delivery.

Mata has developed a career out of being the guy behind the goal. In his career at Valencia, he has always played second fiddle. First to David Villa, then David Silva and now Roberto Soldado.

In that time, he became the lynch pin of that midfield and delivered numerous passes to players who became some of Spain's best goalscorers. They owe not only countless goals to his credit, but the big money contracts they have now.

Chelsea are in desperate need of a player who will be able to provide that final pass before the sure-footed forwards put it away. If Mata could do it with those guys at Valencia, he should have no problem doing it with the men at Chelsea.

The 46 goals in his career is a respectable mark, but his 45 assists will prove more valuable at Stamford Bridge.

A True Winger

Villas-Boas' 4-3-3 formation calls for a true winger.

Right now, Chelsea are lacking one and are using converted forwards to fill the role. It has been hit or miss, depending on the opponent, their form and the players surrounding them. But overall it seems to have been a failed experiment that is making little progress.

Juan Mata plays and is most comfortable on the wing. When he is in one-on-one situations, he more often than not comes up on top. He does not turn the ball over when his wing-backs are up high, and counters when the opponents' wings-backs are in the predicament.

He also is a player who looks to pass first, but is also not afraid to shoot to score.

These kinds of attributes keep defenses honest, as they know that a winger is as much of a threat out wide with their decision making as they are when they cut inside. Pulling wing-backs and the midfield over to double cover him would open the middle for Drogba and Torres, who have both struggled due to being constantly surrounded by defenders.

Chelsea will never succeed under Villas-Boas without a true winger, and there is not a better one available right now than Mata.

Surprisingly Physical

The Premier League is often held as the league above the rest in part because of the nature of the English game. Many players who have mapped out impressive careers elsewhere arrive to the island nation and find that the physicality is more than they can manage.

The Spanish game is almost the polar opposite of England's. Quick passing and one-touch lead ups are preferred to the muscling play of run-at-your-opponent attacks. This has obviously benefited the Spaniards, given their success on both an international and club level.

But when a player who has played their whole career in a different system is rumored to come to England, the question of whether they could handle the physical play must be addressed. In the case of Mata he seems to not only be prepared for it, but also appreciate it.

Before Spain's semi-final match against Belarus in the UEFA U-21 Championships, Mata praised his opponent's physicality: "They are a very physical and competitive team and they will measure our capacity to be in the final."

In the match, he seem to dispatch it with relative ease, shrugging off defenders, creating room and coming close to scoring throughout the match.

Obviously, the defense he will face in the Premier League will give him a little more of a test than Belarus did, but his confidence in how to handle and approach such a style of play gives him the right attitude to play in the setting.

A Tactical Change Up

Since Jose Mourinho took over the team in 2004, the style of Chelsea has remained relatively similar.

They are strong and physical team that dominates in the air and tackles hard and bluntly. There are moments of creative passing, but teamwork is not as important as individual prowess. The formula may not seem ideal, but it has worked for them.

But recently, teams have become accustomed to Chelsea over years of repetitive play. They have relied on their force and intimidation to put the opposition on their heels and impose their will on them. But starting last year, it has not worked.

Opponents have gotten more confident and dug in defensively, exposing their lack of creativity. It has become the team's Achilles heel.

What the arrival of Mata will do is give opponents a new threat to worry about. His dynamic ability on the wings gives a new width as well as speed that is not typical of this side.

He is not a Messi-like player, where he can't be stopped no matter how much tape you study, but it will take opposing coaches some time to work it out. In that space of time, Chelsea could grab a few wins while Mata increases his confidence and settles into the league.

With the big game against Manchester United just three weeks away, it is hardly enough time for even Fergie to figure how he is used in Chelsea's system. A win at Old Trafford will quickly silence critics and validate the move more than anything.

He Will Make Everyone Around Him Better

The advantage of bringing in a new player cannot be emphasized enough when dealing with a team like Chelsea.

This is nearly the identical side that won the double just over a year ago, except they added players like Torres and David Luiz. There is no reason why they should not be able to win again. Mata will enliven this side that really just needs to be awaken and rejuvenated more than rebuilt.

Chelsea's play over the past two weeks has not exactly impressed the coaches or fans. They have been stale in the midfield and the creative woes of last season seem to persist. Bringing Mata into the team will only help shake those demons.

From a tactical stand point, he will attract more defensive attention and open space for Lampard to be more free with the ball. Lampard has struggled being one of two midfielders in the attacking third. The constant surrounding of defenders does not give him the time needed to tread those passes that have made him famous. Mata should provide another outlet for him, while at the same time serving as a distraction for opponents.

From a motivational outlook, he is another player challenging for playing time. It is always good to have competition within your squad. It keeps players alert and at the to of their game. Florent Malouda has done well thus far, but Mata should only make him challenge for that spot more and work harder.

In the end, it also adds depth to an older side. The ability to rotate players will truly benefit the tiring legs, as well as support the sure to come injuries that ruined the team last winter.

Overall, Mata's impact on the team may show up more in the stat lines of his teammates than his own. Either way, it will help Chelsea in the end.

Villas-Boas Will Finally Have His Man

Chelsea got their first win of the new season Saturday, but it was not done with the "flair" Villas-Boas promised.

A stagnant midfield again failed to create opportunities, and a lack of consequential movement often had the back line passing the ball among themselves without moving forward.

This is the same thing that many attribute to the team's downfall last year and the reason for Ancelotti's sacking. The style of play Villas-Boas' Porto exhibited was the way Chelsea wished to play and why the club went out and hired the Portuguese man.

So far, he has not been able to replicate what he did with the Europa Cup winners. Many believe it is the fact that though Chelsea is loaded with an all-star lineup, the players rely more on their technical skills than their creativity. Mata is the opposite.

He is extremely quick and aggressive on the wing, both with the ball at his feet and off it. He is very much in the same style as Hulk, Villas-Boas' former winger at Porto.

With a player like Mata, Villas-Boas would finally have a player who can exhibit the tactics he wishes, rather than attempting to mold veterans away from their natural abilities.

A Spanish Future

To be Spanish is to be the flavor of the month right now.

Since 2008, Spain has won the UEFA Euro Championship, the 2011 U-21 UEFA Championship, 2009 U-19 UEFA Championship and the 2010 World Cup. They have been named the FIFA team of the year in '08, '09, and '10. Spain has also been home to the Champions League winner in '09 and '11.

In short the Iberian nation has dominated the game over the past four years.

The paragraphs above are evidence enough why Villas-Boas has concentrated his signing efforts to Spain. Mata is the latest Spanish name added to a roster that already includes Oriol Romeu and Fernando Torres. All three seem to figure prominently in the bosses future plans, as he intends to build a side that can mimic the success these players have had with their national teams.

One of the most interesting things about Spanish footballers is that for as well as they play on their club teams, they seem to excel even more in their national colors. There is a connection between them that can only be compared the Brazilians of the mid-90s. It seems that the more of them you have on your team, the better off you are.

A Leader for Now and Beyond

The rapidly aging legs of Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba are beginning to show for Chelsea.

It is a sad realization that these great legends of Stamford Bridge will soon go the way of myth as they fade into history. But the biggest loss that will be felt from them leaving will be in the void of leadership.

John Terry has captained this team since 2003, and Lampard has been his been vice-captain for almost that same amount of time. They represent the club as English national regulars and have become fan favorites as well as the clubhouse leaders.

Both players are on the dark side of the hill regarding their career. Terry has been showing a slower and slower pace, and Lampard's passing has not been as crisp as normal. It is difficult to lead from the bench, but within a few years that's where they will be.

Mata has the attitude and personality to become the face of Chelsea both for the fans and his teammates. He is an upstanding citizen of the game and the world. He is a true class professional who works hard and inspires others around him to do so as well. He has had no disciplinary issues on his record.

True glory is not won in a year. A single championship does not elevate you to the legendary status of the greats who have played the game. It takes years to establish a presence amongst the elite. Years of not only great play, but leadership that makes everyone around you better.

Mata has the potential to be this kind of player.

What Else Does His Arrival Mean?

These are only a few of the many reasons Chelsea fans should be excited about Mata's arrival. What are some others that you think should be pointed out?