Juan Mata has exploited the opportunity warded to him by manager Jose Mourinho, putting in a professional performance to help his side to a 3-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth.
With a host of new signings at his disposal, speculation was running rampant in the build up to Manchester United’s season-opener against Bournemouth. At the focal point of the conjecture was crafty Spaniard, Juan Mata.
The 28-year-old famously fell out of favour with Mourinho at Chelsea; with the midfielder eventually being sold to Manchester United.
“I know him very, very well- because I worked with him, for six months, at our previous club. I know exactly what he can give and what he cannot give,” Mourinho said.
After being subbed on, and embarrassingly, subbed off in last week’s FA Community Shield win against Leicester City, it appeared as though the Mata/Mourinho relationship was on course for more of the same; despite Mourinho dedicating a large portion of his post-match interview, explaining his decision:
“I’m winning 1-0, I want the game to finish, I want to stop the game. I have to take one player to make my last change and I have to take the smallest one. Because I know that the game is going to end with long-balls, with throw-ins; so I don’t take Ibrahimovic or Fellaini, for sure… Mata is the smallest one.”
Those in attendance for the season-opener, would have been surprised to see Mata assume a starting role; which by consequence meant marquee man, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, would have to sit tight on the bench.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy05EFQEH1A
In the face of widespread bafflement, Mata put in a sprightly, proactive performance. Bournemouth played their usual compact, high-tempo passing game and for prolonged patches they looked as though they may stunt United’s season prematurely.
But just before half-time Mata took advantage of Simon Francis’ error to pass the ball into the back of the Bournemouth net, sending his side into the lead- and sending critics into a state of retraction.
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The diminutive Spaniard was part of a highly functional United midfield – completing 92% of passes as United took full control after half time.
Mourinho praised Mata’s predatory instincts following the win.
“It was an important goal; a clever goal; a goal by somebody with a natural instinct to play football. I am really happy with him, but I am really happy with the whole team… because they [all] gave a contribution” Mourinho said.
Also on the score sheet for the Red Devils was captain, Wayne Rooney, and audacious Swede, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Despite the scoring prowess of his attackers, the M.O.T.M. award went to Eric Bailly- the Ivorian taking out the honor for the second fixture in a row.
“We are building something strong; and to build something strong is not just the people on the pitch. It’s the people on the pitch; the people on the bench; those not selected; and fundamentally the red family- we could feel this today.”
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