As soon as it was announced that Jose Mourinho was to be the new Manchester United manager, those in the Transfer Tavern as well as around the footballing world thought it would be the end of Juan Mata’s Old Trafford career.
The Spaniard was ousted from the Chelsea under the Portuguese after the former Real Madrid boss saw him as simply as too small and too slow to play in his team.
The 28-year old duly left for Manchester United to reignite his career and has largely done so, being one of the club’s better players but it looks as though he’ll once again have to look for another club because of the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’.
It’s an unfortunate turn of events for a player that must feel the new United boss has a personal vendetta against him as he’ll have to once again save his career.
Our landlord though thinks letting Mata go could be a big error on Mourinho’s part and so here are the FIVE reasons why…
Big game player
Mata has shown that on the big games he can perform and Mourinho needs players like this. The Spaniard has a knack of scoring against fierce rivals Liverpool whilst he also scored the vital equaliser in last season’s FA Cup final.
He’s obviously not overawed by the big occasion and as Mourinho looks to return the club to the highest level he’ll need players that can perform on this stage.
One of United’s best for the last few seasons
United have been in the wilderness for the last three seasons. After Sir Alex Ferguson retired the club seemed to lose it’s direction and both David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal suffered underwhelming tenures.
Through it all though Mata has been one of the team’s most consistently high performers and Mourinho should take note of this – he’s clearly a good player.
Something different going forward
One of Jose Mourinho’s criticisms of Juan Mata seems to be that he can be quite slow on the pitch and whilst the Premier League is one of the fastest played leagues around, having eleven quick players isn’t always the answer.
The silky Spaniard certainly has the ability to dictate the tempo of a match, slowing the game down and this is key to controlling a game and despite Mourinho thinking he’s slow he still has the passing ability to kick the pace up a notch too offering United a different option going forward.
Good from set pieces
Mata has a great left foot and that should not be simply ignored. Very few of United’s players at the moment can take great set pieces but Juan Mata is one of them.
He offers a threat from both corners and free-kicks and with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic prowling the 18-yard-box at Old Trafford now surely Jose Mourinho has utilise Mata’s ability instead of just dismissing him.
Title winning experience
Mata knows how to win a title and this is vital for where United want to be. Mourinho has clearly identified the squad needs winners – him being one himself – and with the likes of Ibrahimovic he’s beginning to assemble what he needs.
Boasting a World Cup, Champions League, Europa League, two FA Cups and a European Championships, the former Valencia man knows what he’s doing.
He should however look at the experience he already has available to him before going into the transfer market because in the Spanish midfielder he has someone who knows his way around the Premier League.
