Mata to Man United is DONE - Confirmed by Mourinho...
Mata, RVP and Rooney will bring the fear factor back for United... but Moyes still needs a rebuild
Jose Mourinho has admitted Chelsea were powerless to stand in Juan Mata's way when the opportunity to move to Manchester United arose. The Spaniard has undergone a medical at Old Trafford and will be ready for selection when David Moyes' side face Cardiff City on Tuesday.
After such a miserable season, Manchester United fans have been crying out for a hero. In Juan Mata, they might just have one. He's a magician of a player, has a fantastic attitude and he can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. He's a match-winner, but make no mistake, he's not the answer to all of United's problems.
After such a miserable season, Manchester United fans have been crying out for a hero. In Juan Mata, they might just have one.
With confidence at an all-time low after the Sunderland defeat, Mata’s signing is a glimmer of hope at Old Trafford.
He’s a magician of a player, has a fantastic attitude and he can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. He’s a match-winner, but make no mistake, he’s not the answer to all of United’s problems.
His arrival is a statement of intent but it’s just papering over the cracks at the moment.
United need an overhaul to get back to the top and they are still short of five or six top-quality players. With the likes of Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand all potentially leaving in the summer, it will be a big rebuilding project. But signing Mata is a good start.
When Robin van Persie joined, United had won nothing the previous year. He was the catalyst, the player who made the difference and fired them to the league title. Mata could have a similar impact and if he gets United into the top four, it will be just as big an achievement.
The problem for David Moyes is getting his players fit, because a team sheet with Van Persie, Mata, Wayne Rooney and Adnan Januzaj on it starts to look very dangerous.
I’ve always said lining up in the tunnel at Old Trafford was nerve-racking because of the number of superstars they had. They miss that aura now but with those four they’ll be able to hurt teams.
People say he’s not a United player or doesn’t fit their philosophy but what is their current philosophy? Good players adapt and United can be flexible to get the best out of their attacking players.
They could easily go with a midfield diamond with Mata at the top of it behind Rooney and RVP, or he could play in a wider role. As long as Moyes restores his confidence he could play Mata anywhere across the front because he is expert at playing in between the lines.
In football we have very short memories. All it takes is a bad six months and suddenly you’re a bad player. That’s just not true with Mata. He played 64 games and scored 20 goals last season and was Chelsea’s Player of the Year, again. He has always been good enough for Chelsea, he was just never good enough for Jose Mourinho.
After such a miserable season, Manchester United fans have been crying out for a hero. In Juan Mata, they might just have one. He's a magician of a player, has a fantastic attitude and he can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. He's a match-winner, but make no mistake, he's not the answer to all of United's problems.
After such a miserable season, Manchester United fans have been crying out for a hero. In Juan Mata, they might just have one.
With confidence at an all-time low after the Sunderland defeat, Mata’s signing is a glimmer of hope at Old Trafford.
He’s a magician of a player, has a fantastic attitude and he can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. He’s a match-winner, but make no mistake, he’s not the answer to all of United’s problems.
His arrival is a statement of intent but it’s just papering over the cracks at the moment.
United need an overhaul to get back to the top and they are still short of five or six top-quality players. With the likes of Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand all potentially leaving in the summer, it will be a big rebuilding project. But signing Mata is a good start.
When Robin van Persie joined, United had won nothing the previous year. He was the catalyst, the player who made the difference and fired them to the league title. Mata could have a similar impact and if he gets United into the top four, it will be just as big an achievement.
The problem for David Moyes is getting his players fit, because a team sheet with Van Persie, Mata, Wayne Rooney and Adnan Januzaj on it starts to look very dangerous.
I’ve always said lining up in the tunnel at Old Trafford was nerve-racking because of the number of superstars they had. They miss that aura now but with those four they’ll be able to hurt teams.
People say he’s not a United player or doesn’t fit their philosophy but what is their current philosophy? Good players adapt and United can be flexible to get the best out of their attacking players.
They could easily go with a midfield diamond with Mata at the top of it behind Rooney and RVP, or he could play in a wider role. As long as Moyes restores his confidence he could play Mata anywhere across the front because he is expert at playing in between the lines.
In football we have very short memories. All it takes is a bad six months and suddenly you’re a bad player. That’s just not true with Mata. He played 64 games and scored 20 goals last season and was Chelsea’s Player of the Year, again. He has always been good enough for Chelsea, he was just never good enough for Jose Mourinho.
