I WILL GIVE ’EM OLD JUAN-TWO… AGAIN
JUAN MATA still gets stopped by fans wanting to talk to him about his stunning scissor-kick goal at Anfield nearly five years ago.
For the most part, Mata says he is happy to oblige, describing his two-goal haul in the 2-1 win in 2015 as one of his most cherished memories in a United shirt.
Yet ahead of tomorrow’s crunch clash against Jurgen Klopp’s runaway league leaders, the Spaniard says it is not a time to celebrate past glories, but to create new memories.
And if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side can achieve what no one else has this season and defeat Liverpool in the league, Mata maintains it could be one to top the lot.
His two goals against Brendan Rodgers’ Reds will take some beating, though. “It was a very special day for all of us but, for me personally, scoring two goals at Anfield is always going to be very special,” Mata said of his day, highlighted by a superb near-horizontal scissor-kick
Vwinner with his left foot. It was a goal that did more to embed the former Chelsea midfielder in United fans’ affections than any other he can recall, yet he is not one to dwell.
“It was always going to be remembered, like the fans remember the Diego Forlan goal or the John O’Shea one at Anfield,” he said. “So it’s a memory that I cherish. But you have to move on, and luckily I’ve also scored other goals.
“As the years go by now there’s another opportunity to play a very special game.
“Of course, Liverpool are on an incredible run and have confidence, but we will ourselves a good chance.”
If United have always measured themselves against the benchmark of Liverpool – in 2002, Sir Alex Ferguson famously said his aim had been to knock them off their perch – the current balance of power is not in doubt.
Liverpool sit 27 points ahead of fifth-placed United with a game in hand – a situation that would suggest the Reds are well and truly back on that perch. But Mata says United should not be measuring themselves against other sides.
“The motivation for us has to be inner motivation,” he said. “When you play for this club, you have to be motivated to play every single game and fight for every trophy.
“That’s the way the manager thinks too, which is focusing on ourselves give and trying to improve ourselves. Obviously, if someone is doing very well, OK, but I’d prefer to motivate myself from within, which is better in the long term.”
Mata is likely to start his again tomorrow, having scored the winner against Wolves in Wednesday’s FA Cup replay.
“Hopefully we can bring with us this good moment of good football and results,” Mata said.
There is no better result for United than a win at Anfield.
ASHLEY YOUNG, 34, has completed his move to Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan, initially until June but with an option to extend for a further season.