Juan Mata – is there a nicer man in football? If so we haven’t yet found one.
When Mata first joined Manchester United we were quite critical of his lack of pace and the way that he regularly slowed the game down with a square pass rather than going direct.
But, as time has passed, we have found ourselves unable to criticise him.
Because not only has his form picked up – he’s got a decent 16 goals in 50 games for Manchester United now – but he’s so damn nice!
Always bigging up his team mates on Twitter – always welcoming new players to the club and always in the middle of every photograph taken by a Manchester United player, Mata was worth the huge fee purely for the positive atmosphere that his presence surely engenders.
Anyway, enough waxing lyrical about the character of the man. On to the football.
The charming Spaniard has stated his targets for the new season in his latest interview. The Guardian quotes him as saying:
“I always try to score more than 10 goals in a season. I have nearly always done that and I think that is a good number for a midfielder. Last season I tried to score as many as I could and it is always a big part of my game. I will try again to be in and around the box and score again.”
Ahhh..
What a lovely man.
He also talked about the highlight of his first full season at Manchester United, when he scored a beautiful brace against Liverpool:
“It was amazing for me and for the fans,” he said. “They will not forget the day because it was a special venue against a massive opponent. It was a good day for me but before that I think I had already played a few good games. It was a boost for all the team’s confidence.”
And of the season opener against Tottenham:
“The most important game is Tottenham. Then we have our second match [against Aston Villa] and we need to be fit enough mentally and physically for the battle in Europe because it is going to be a battle.”
Let’s see some of his best moments for Manchester United so far. United fans: can you see a future for him in the first XI and, if so, where in the team should he play?
