Mata urges United to get momentum
FOR Juan Mata, it is imperative that 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, leaving the Europa League final, in Stockholm on May 24, as their last chance of securing Uefa Champions League qualification.
United visit Southampton tonight before entertaining Crystal Palace on the season’s final day.
While there is nothing riding on the games, Mata said he and his teammates could not afford to take the two games lightly.
“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,” the Spanish midfielder wrote on his blog 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 remaining games. We 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 said he had an idea of the team he would like to align against Ajax, and he must strike a balance between resting key players and making sure they were fit and firing for the trip to Sweden.
He has already said Daley Blind would be rested for tonight’s rearranged game at Southampton, with the versatile Dutch defender having started six of United’s last seven matches.
Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford could all be in the starting XI, having started on the bench at Spurs, while Marouane Fellaini returns from suspension.
It was not known yesterday if Paul Pogba was in contention to play after he was given compassionate leave following the death of his father.
Southampton, who won 2-1 at relegated Middlesbrough on Sunday, are in a straight shootout for eighth place with West Bromwich Albion, who lead them on goal difference.
They are also out to avenge their 3-2 loss by United in the League Cup final, which left a bitter taste after Manolo Gabbiadini saw what would have been an 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 said an eighth-place finish would 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 it’s been an okay season,” the Northern Irish midfielder said.
“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.”