In the first of a new feature for the new season, Juan Mata pairs six subjects into the categories first, last, best, worst, easiest and hardest…
FIRST…
Holiday. I remember the first holiday I went away with my friends, to Cadiz in the south of Spain. We wanted to go by car because we were young and liked the adventure, so we drove from the north, in Asturias where I am from, and it took us more than eight hours once we had stopped. It was a long drive, but a very good time.
LAST…
Film. I watched Searching for Sugar Man, a documentary, on Tuesday night in the hotel before the Aston Villa game. It is about a musician from America who became famous in South Africa, an incredible story.
BEST…
Game. With the national team I would say the final of Euro 2012 when I scored the last goal, and with Chelsea we have lots of finals already, but to play in the first 11 of the Champions League final and win, that would be it.
WORST…
Music. You can say Fernando Torres. He has been putting music on in the dressing room, and even though I like the music, he is a bad DJ. He tries to mix new things with old things, so I think he deserves it.
EASIEST…
Team-mate. I would say Oriol Romeu, if you know him as a person. Anyone can be his friend if you know him, he is such a nice guy and I hope he has a very good season at Valencia this year.
HARDEST…
Training. This is always in pre-season. After having four weeks of holiday for the first time in as long as I can remember, it was very hard to come back from almost nothing to 100 per cent. I think that’s why I had some muscle pain during that time.