Mata eager for United to build momentum

JUAN Mata believes it is imperative Manchester United win their final two Premier League games to make sure they are in peak condition for their Europa League final against Ajax.

United’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday means they can no longer finish in the top four and leaves the Europa League final in Stockholm on May 24 as their last chance of securing Champions League qualification.

United visit Southampton tonight (at 1:45am Cambodian time) before entertaining Crystal Palace on the season’s final day, and while there is nothing riding on the games, Mata says he and his teammates cannot afford to take them lightly.

“Now it’s time to play two good games to close the Premier League and reach the Europa League final in the best shape that we can,” Spanish midfielder Mata (pictured, AFP) wrote on his blog, published on the United website.

“It’s true that the calendar has been hectic over the last two months, but we have to push hard now to try to win the three remaining games. We really want to.”

United manager Jose Mourinho has made it clear that the Europa League is now the club’s sole focus, having rested players at Tottenham and in the 2-0 loss at Arsenal that preceded it.

He made eight changes to the team that had overcome Celta Vigo in the Europa League semifinals for the defeat at Spurs, which left United seven points below the top four in sixth place.

Mourinho says he already has an idea of the team he would like to align against Ajax and he must now strike a balance between resting his key players and making sure they are fit and firing for the trip to Sweden. n.

He has as already revealed Daley Blind will be rested for tonight’s ght’s rearranged game at t Southampton, n, with t h e v e r - s at i l e Dutch defender having started six of United’s last sevenen matches.

Avenging ng Saints

Matteoeo Darmian, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan khitaryan and Marcus Rashford could all comee into the starting XI, having ing started on the bench at Spurs, while Mar- ouane Fellaini returns from suspension. It is not known if Paul Pogba is in contention to play after he was given compassionate leave following the dea death of his father. Southampton, whow won 2-1 at relegated M Middlesbrough on Sun Sunday, are in a straight s shootout for eighth placepl with West BromwichBro A l b i o n , who curren currently lead th them on goalg difference.fe They are alsoals out to avenge their 33-2 defeat by UnitedUn in February’sFe L e a g u e C u p f i n a l , which left a bit bitter taste after Manolo Gabbiadini saw what would have been the opening goal ruled out for a dubious offside.

As well as missing out on the League Cup, Southampton will be unable to improve on the previous season’s league placing – sixth – for the first time in eight campaigns.

But captain Steven Davis believes an eighth-place finish will still represent an acceptable season.

“If we go on and finish the season strongly and get ourselves in that eighth position then we can look back at it and say that it’s been an OK season,” said the Northern Irish midfielder.

“We got to the cup final, with European experience [in the Europa League] and a decent league position, but we all want more than that.”