Pranav Nair
Boost for Manchester United as Juan Mata returns to training
According to The Metro, Juan Mata has returned to first-team training as Manchester United prepare to take on Granada in the Europa League on Thursday.
The Spaniard has been a bit-part player for the club this season and has made just three appearances this calendar year. He was also given personal time off following his mother’s demise.
His return will come as a boost for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the United boss struggles for attacking options. Anthony Martial is potentially out for the season while Marcus Rashford is also struggling for fitness.
While Mata is unlikely to start, his presence on the bench will be a boost as we enter the final run-up to the season’s end. The Europa League represents the club’s biggest opportunity this season to put an end to our four-year trophyless streak.
It can be argued that United are the favourites to win the trophy. Incidentally, it is the last competition we won all the way back in 2017 under Jose Mourinho.
Solskjaer is also being backed to bring in Scott McTominay and Daniel James against Granada. The latter is expected to replace the ineffective Edinson Cavani who struggled against Brighton. (h/t The Metro)
The last dance?
Mata’s contract is up in June and he was expected to leave the club in the summer. However, the 32-year-old looks set to be offered a one-year extension.
While it will do little to boost his chances of playing regularly, it will hand Solskjaer more depth and a seasoned veteran to call upon.
With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting club finances, keeping the 32-year-old could be a shrewd piece of business given our other priorities in the market.
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The Red Devils last won a trophy in 2017 when Jose Mourinho led them to the Europa League. Four years on, Solskjaer too can leave his mark at the club by achieving just that.
