KEEP YOUR HEADS UP

Mata: We must stop feeling sorry for leaking late goals... it’s time we finished teams off

JUAN MATA has warned his Manchester United mates not to wallow in self-pity after their latest slap in the face at Everton.

The Spain midfielder was gutted by Sunday’s controversial late penalty, which denied United victory at Goodison Park, and leaves them trailing 13 points behind leaders Chelsea.

Manager Jose Mourinho was lefted frustrated, but refused to blame subsitute Marouane Fellaini, who gave away the spot-kick.

Mata (right) insists the Reds must focus on securing the wins their displays deserve by finishing games off.

He said: “We could just say that it was a pity and how helpless we feel when important points slip away at the end of games that you think you deserved to have won. It has been like that in the last few fixtures at Old Trafford and now again.

“That was how we felt in the dressing room after the game against Everton. Yet I prefer to look forward, to think about the potential of this squad and how united we are in the desire to convert all these draws into wins.

“Complaining about the bad luck is not worth it. We must close the games and get what we deserve. That should be the only idea in our heads.”

United have managed just 19 goals in 14 Premier League games and Mata knows they must be more clinical.

He believes United’s remaining five league games in December give them the chance to make up some ground. “We have six more games to complete a very busy December and close 2016 – namely Zorya, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, West Brom, Sunderland and Middlesbrough on New

Year’s

Eve,” he said.

“Three at home and three more away, although we don’t make any distinctions.

“We look at the best possible finish to the year – and I’m sure we can do it.

“We will try to find again a good run of results in the Premier League because, despite the feeling when we play is good, we have to take our chances and and close the games.”