Matic: He is the best player -- Jose Morinho

The Chelsea boss says the 26-year-old midfielder is a "giant" for his side and hails the way in which he adapted to his second spell at Stamford Bridge
Jose Mourinho says Nemanja Matic has been a "giant" since returning to Chelsea last January.

The 26-year-old rejoined the Blues from Benfica in January and has been an almost ever-present for the west Londoners, and he picked up the man-of-the-match award in the Premier League leader's 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.And his manager Mourinho was effusive in his praise for the Serb, telling reporters: “He is the best player.

"He was signed in the most difficult market. Which is for the players who are coming in mid-season, so the last half of the season was for him to improve, not adaptation, as he was a Chelsea player before, but to improve.

"At this moment he is a giant, not for his size but for the way he plays. The man is a giant."

Mourinho also hailed the mentality of his side, likening them to the championship-winning teams he has coached around Europe and says they remind him of the Chelsea team he forged in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

He added: "I was champion in different countries, with different clubs. And there are points which are always present.

"I had it in Inter, Porto and Madrid and I have it here. I had it here in my first spell and I have it now, and this is something that I always have, people who are willing to sacrifice for the team, people who are willing to push, push to help, so I am so pleased with that."