Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has defended his decision to leave Juan Mata out of the starting line-up for the 0-0 Stamford Bridge draw against Fulham.

Benitez dropped the Spanish playmaker - one of Chelsea's stars of the season so far - to the bench, instead favouring the more defensive Ryan Bertrand.

But the move to leave out Mata, who has scored seven times so far, backfired as Benitez, who has been given a hostile reception by the Blues faithful, watched his side labour to ...

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