It’s been Juan Mata’s month this March. In correlation to receiving a Player of the Month award, our midfield magician earned more plaudits by topping off a match-winning performance at Anfield with a stunning overhead kick.
This Goal of the Month, which saw The Red Devils unwilling to share the spoils, ultimately proved to be the decider, allowing for the luxury of a single goal cushion – despite conceding in a moment of weakness – to avoid the prolonged pain of a ‘squeaky bum time’ winner. By which time, the United faithful would be boarding the team bus home.
But the 26-year-old is not without his own woes, after being kept from the Spanish squad. But whilst we all ponder upon Vicente del Bosque’s thoughts with this strange call, Mata’s ambition grows and with that, our admiration for him. He’s tasted representing his country at a World Cup, (however lacking the fruits were for his side in one to forget) and will bolster his game for van Gaal in order for a recall.
Look no further for your evidence. The stats don’t lie and even former gaffer Ron Atkinson revealed his hopes for a top four finish were waning, until two rejuvenated displays, which unsurprisingly featured the Spaniard.
And these weren’t just any old top flight rivals to rob three points of; Mata certainly picked his moment to arrive at the party, standing van Gaal’s men in good stead for a recall of their own for the 2015/16 campaign – to the Champions League. If these must-win encounters are what brings the man in question to life then there’s plenty for him to fill his boots with. A visit to Stamford Bridge and the welcoming of the less favoured blue half of our city and Arsenal mean the end to this season won’t be a lifeless one of sorts.
When speaking to ManUtd.com, Mata described the occasion that saw him lay claim to his latest compliments as a day he will “never forget.” If we weren’t touched already, he presented his sincerest gratitude to us as he continued: “I must say thank you to the fans for voting for these awards and for always supporting me. They have always been amazing to me.”
I suppose our pleas with the current manager have been successful. And if in Mata’s words he “just did what came into his mind,” we’ll have a bit of that more often. Pace, assist, skills and now acrobatics, I’m excited to see what else our man is going to pull out of the bag in the closing eight, in his bid for more international duty.
Comments.
Loading comments…