Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2016 11:32:02 GMT
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Juan Mata is starting to win over Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
The 28-year-old has started three consecutive games under the Portuguese and it looks like Mata finally has a chance to make the No.10 role his own.
Only a few weeks ago, the Spaniard was hauled off just 27 minutes after he came on in the Community Shield win against Leicester City.
Sweaty and red-faced, an uncharacteristically fiery Mata grimaced at Mourinho's response after the Portuguese gave him a short explanation about needing more height on the field.
His replacement, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, is just an inch taller than Mata. Even with Mourinho's obsession with the finer details, it seemed a flimsy excuse in a fairly meaningless game.
Given the Armenian's failure to even make United's match-day squad against Stoke, regardless of concerns about his fitness, it shows what a turnaround it's been for Mata in recent weeks.
Instead of shirking the challenge of dislodging Mkhitaryan and captain Wayne Rooney, the 28-year-old has kept his head down and proved that he's much more than just football's Mr Nice Guy.
Mata's been here before and more than any other player on United's books, the Spaniard has been haunted by the fourth official's substitutes board.
Facing fierce competition from Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Andre Schurrle under Mourinho at Chelsea, Mata was hauled off 11 times in 14 starts under the Portuguese.
In contrast, under Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benitez, Mata was taken off on just 55 occasions in 102 starts.
Mourinho, though, demanded the stamina, defensive commitment and speed that simply could not be coached and felt Oscar and Willian were better suited to his style and system.
Oscar would prove that in Mata's final appearance for the Blues against Southampton on New Year's Day in 2014.
Mata, in a rare start as Chelsea's No.10 under the Portuguese, was hooked just seven minutes into the second half and was replaced by Oscar with the score at 0-0.
As the Spaniard trudged off, he ignored Mourinho and slammed a seat in the dug out.
Given how Oscar changed the game, scoring one and creating two more, Mourinho's decision was more than justified.
The mask had slipped and Mata would remain an unused substitute in his final four games for the Blues before he completed a £37.1 million transfer to Old Trafford.
It was an ignominious end for the man who had twice been voted Chelsea's player of the year, but a similar episode two-and-a half years later has provoked a positive response from Mata.
There's a quiet assuredness about the Spaniard now and his natural game in full flight is in marked contrast to Paul Pogba's struggles at United right now.
Every game, Pogba seems to attempt at least one long range effort; it nearly worked against Watford, when he clipped the crossbar, but he had four speculative long rangers against Stoke.
His composure seems to have deserted him at times and a wayward pass here and there along with that first-half miss dented his confidence after a promising display against Leicester City.
The Frenchman only had 56 touches against Stoke - fewer than centre-back Eric Bailly - and that impressive debut against Southampton feels a long time ago.
Pogba seems to be trying too hard and his role and identity in this Untied team is not as tangible as it was at Juventus.
Mata, on the other hand, is finding his groove under Mourinho and the dreaded substitutes board is no longer his concern.
Juan Mata is starting to win over Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
The 28-year-old has started three consecutive games under the Portuguese and it looks like Mata finally has a chance to make the No.10 role his own.
Only a few weeks ago, the Spaniard was hauled off just 27 minutes after he came on in the Community Shield win against Leicester City.
Sweaty and red-faced, an uncharacteristically fiery Mata grimaced at Mourinho's response after the Portuguese gave him a short explanation about needing more height on the field.
His replacement, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, is just an inch taller than Mata. Even with Mourinho's obsession with the finer details, it seemed a flimsy excuse in a fairly meaningless game.
Given the Armenian's failure to even make United's match-day squad against Stoke, regardless of concerns about his fitness, it shows what a turnaround it's been for Mata in recent weeks.
Instead of shirking the challenge of dislodging Mkhitaryan and captain Wayne Rooney, the 28-year-old has kept his head down and proved that he's much more than just football's Mr Nice Guy.
Mata's been here before and more than any other player on United's books, the Spaniard has been haunted by the fourth official's substitutes board.
Facing fierce competition from Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Andre Schurrle under Mourinho at Chelsea, Mata was hauled off 11 times in 14 starts under the Portuguese.
In contrast, under Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benitez, Mata was taken off on just 55 occasions in 102 starts.
Mourinho, though, demanded the stamina, defensive commitment and speed that simply could not be coached and felt Oscar and Willian were better suited to his style and system.
Oscar would prove that in Mata's final appearance for the Blues against Southampton on New Year's Day in 2014.
Mata, in a rare start as Chelsea's No.10 under the Portuguese, was hooked just seven minutes into the second half and was replaced by Oscar with the score at 0-0.
As the Spaniard trudged off, he ignored Mourinho and slammed a seat in the dug out.
Given how Oscar changed the game, scoring one and creating two more, Mourinho's decision was more than justified.
The mask had slipped and Mata would remain an unused substitute in his final four games for the Blues before he completed a £37.1 million transfer to Old Trafford.
It was an ignominious end for the man who had twice been voted Chelsea's player of the year, but a similar episode two-and-a half years later has provoked a positive response from Mata.
There's a quiet assuredness about the Spaniard now and his natural game in full flight is in marked contrast to Paul Pogba's struggles at United right now.
Every game, Pogba seems to attempt at least one long range effort; it nearly worked against Watford, when he clipped the crossbar, but he had four speculative long rangers against Stoke.
His composure seems to have deserted him at times and a wayward pass here and there along with that first-half miss dented his confidence after a promising display against Leicester City.
The Frenchman only had 56 touches against Stoke - fewer than centre-back Eric Bailly - and that impressive debut against Southampton feels a long time ago.
Pogba seems to be trying too hard and his role and identity in this Untied team is not as tangible as it was at Juventus.
Mata, on the other hand, is finding his groove under Mourinho and the dreaded substitutes board is no longer his concern.
