Ex-Red says Juan is really going to Mata in big games
JUAN Mata has become more important for United because he allows their forwards to ‘get up the pitch and get into a point where they can play one-on-one’, according to Gary Neville.
The Spaniard was rewarded with a rare start against a top-six rival on Saturday, playing 88 minutes in the 2-1 win against Liverpool after his impressive cameo at Crystal Palace five days earlier.
Although Mata did not register an assist in either game, the 29-year-old helped United’s attack tick as he drifted inside from his position on the right wing, allowing others to flourish.
And, ahead of further seasondefining fixtures against Sevilla tonight and Brighton at the weekend, Neville believes Mata will be key to United’s hopes of finishing the season on a high.
“There’s signs in the last two games that there’s a team there, and Juan Mata’s become more important to connect the team,” he told Sky Sports.
“It looks like you’ve got [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial, [Romelu] Lukaku, but they haven’t got that glue that just knits it together. Mata looks like he might become a very important player.
“Michael Carrick, [Paul] Pogba has sort of got the ability to connect back to front, but Mata certainly has got the composure to hold the ball and allow those players to make runs.”
THE POGBA QUESTION THERE was not one moment on Saturday where United fans pondered ‘that would have been different if Paul Pogba played’ or ‘why has Mourinho not gone with a 4-3-3?’
United delivered without their talisman, who has struggled to recapture his best form in recent weeks, and Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic gave their more fleetfooted team-mates the opportunity to roam – while also protecting United’s defence in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Given Pogba’s continued absence, could Jose Mourinho name an unchanged side?
IT’S WIN OR BUST SINCE United came away from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium with a 0-0 draw last month, Sevilla have suffered two defeats at home, conceding seven goals in the process.
Mourinho handed the Copa del Rey finalists remarkable respect – tasking McTominay with man-marking the fading Ever Banega. Now it is time to send out a statement.