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No Longer The Old Chelsea Player, Times Have Changed For This Manchester United Star Under Jose Mourinho – Agreed?

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Juan Mata’s future as a Manchester United player came under a debate as Jose Mourinho was appointed as the manager of the Red Devils. After all, the Portuguese was the one who had sold him while at Chelsea even though Mata was one of the best players at the club back then. Mata was deemed as a luxury by Mourinho, who preferred the more combative nature of Oscar in the number 10 role to the creativity of Mata. Ironically, Chelsea managed just one major trophy since the departure of Mata.

The importance of the Spaniard is once again demonstrated by the fact that United have not been able to win even a single game without him in the team this season (so far). Against Leicester City during the weekend, Mata was playing the role of Wayne Rooney to a greater perfection. Rooney’s best position in the game is still a mystery, but he has filled many roles in the past. Likewise, Mata’s best position has always been as a number 10 even though he has played out wide for the number of games.

Against Leicester, Mata was dropping into the spaces looking to hurt the opposition from the front. His eye for goal has always been excellent, but the Spaniard is best known for his ability to cross the ball or play one-two with his teammates; something that the Spanish breed is known for. Mata was in full flow with these skills against Leicester and it clearly showed what United had been missing until now.

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Jose Mourinho has used Mata in a wide attacking role in most of the games this season. But against Leicester, the 28-year-old returned the favour with one goal and one assist. For the rest of the games he played, in the league this season, he failed to better the stat and maybe that is only because he was played out wide.

Jose Mourinho has always been quite concerned about leaving spaces at the back. It is a major reason for his team is being set up in a defensive manner. This calls for the need to trackback; but with a strike force that includes the likes of Mata, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, it remains a mystery as to why United may not push forward even more.

Well, he may not be the strongest player on the pitch, but he has adopted the “new English style” very well. he knows how to press the opponent and also tracks back when in need – something he failed to do during his Chelsea tenure. He might not be the best of the tackler, but he is always an option available for the teammates while playing deep.

Mata is also intelligent enough to provide space to other players so that they can excel in their own game. Paul Pogba’s brilliant performance against Leicester was not a coincidence, as Mata provided him with space to use his limitless energy and move forward. This led to Pogba’s first goal in United colours and finally ending the focus on his poor form.

Mata is in a rebirth at United, and he is not going away anytime soon.

Written by Bharath Rammr

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