BENFICA AT HEART OF THE MATA

Benfica Man Utd Groupa: tomorrow, 7.45pm

JUAN MATA has happy memories of Benfica – but says history counts for nothing. Mata was part of the Chelsea team that beat Benfica in 2012 on the way to lifting the Champions League. The following season Chelsea beat the Portuguese giants in the final of the Europa League. But he knows those great memories will count for nothing when Manchester United take on Benfica tomorrow. “Personally, Benfica bring me good memories,” said the Spanish playmaker (above). “I played against them in 2012 in the Champions League quarter-finals and then beat them in the Europa League final the following season but, despite these good memories, I don’t want to be over-confident.” Benfica have lost their first two group games and Mata believes that makes them dangerous because they know they must get a result against United to keep alive their hopes of progressing. “They are a team with very good players and a big supporting crowd,” he said. “They need the points and we will have to be at our best to get a positive result.” United’s safety-first tactics in the 0-0 draw at Anfield on Saturday have been criticised by former Old Trafford striker Dwight Yorke. Yorke (above) told bein SPORTS: “Sir Alex Ferguson understood the Manchester United way of playing and made us feel that we could go to the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal back in the day and win. “I am not sure if Mourinho is that way inclined.” Under Mourinho, United have played seven away matches against their big-six rivals and have scored just once. Yorke went on: “As a striker you would probably be a little frustrated because you want to be involved in the game all the time.”