The Official Juan Mata Thread

[CaajScot]

http://instagram.com/p/BenUhQelIcT

[grandpaTJ]

\o/\o/ Our Juan!

[CaajScot]

05/02/2018 10:31, Report by Juan Mata

MATA: MUNICH IS ALWAYS IN OUR MEMORY

Each and every Monday during the season, Manchester United star Juan Mata pens a personal blog. In his latest entry, the Spanish maestro reflects on an emotional day at Old Trafford on Saturday…

Hi everyone,

When you have a painful defeat like the one we had in midweek against Tottenham, all you want is for the next game to start as soon as possible. We needed to show the character of the team and to react in front of our fans in order to go back to the winning path. And so we did.

I think it was a complete performance, one of those days when the game is under your control, and we managed to close it in time to add the three points. I hope we can do the same against Newcastle this coming weekend. We really enjoyed ourselves on the pitch, especially during the second half, and eventually, we could dedicate the victory to the victims (and their families) of that fateful day in Munich.

But the day that is absolutely shown in red on this week's calendar is on Tuesday, a day that marks the 60th anniversary of the air disaster. The victims will never be forgotten, they will always be remembered and will be a part of United's history forever. The passion, determination, and courage shown by the club to carry on in those horrible moments have left an indelible mark forever.

The “Flowers of Manchester” will always be with us. By the way, the minute of silence before our game was simply spectacular… it is because of this kind of thing that this club is so special.

Hugs,

Juan

Juan Mata's full blog is available to read on his official website.

www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2018/Feb/Juan-Mata-dedicates-Manchester-United-win-over-Huddersfield-to-those-affected-by-Munich-Air-Disaster.aspx

[grandpaTJ]

Best part for me, it isn't just lip service. Juan Mata is a damn fine man.

[WhatsTheMata]

Mata told the Panenka magazine: 'I see children now and many things surprise me: they ask me about my boots and why I don't die my hair. I wonder "Why don't you talk to me about how to cross the ball, control it, the position of the body when I strike the ball?"

'Previously, kids wanted a ball; nowadays they want boots and jerseys, they don't have a ball and they cannot play too much. Yet they don't mind because they can show off their boots and shirt and that's enough. Football is losing its essence, people talk about celebrations instead of goals.

'I am not criticising people talking about boots or haircuts but I would ask that people talk more about the other stuff, about the game itself.'

On the growth of social media, Mata also said he is baffled by the self-promotion of some players and clubs.

'New boots and videos filmed by players have the biggest reach and I get it to a certain extent but the footballer has changed,' Mata reflected. 'I am not so old but when I started out, we had none of this. We did not have the need to show the things we do and the good life we lead. That is dangerous. Social networks can be very positive because it's a great vehicle to communicate but perhaps things need to be done in a different way.'

Asked who can put the breaks on it, Mata insisted: 'The clubs should do it. It's about taking football back to its roots. If not, all that is left is to start training with a mobile phone in our hands and filming us doing freestyle touches, which during a real game isn't really effective.'

Mata has also said he is tempted by management when he retires.

'I would like to play until I'm 40 if my body allows me to,' he said. 'I will carry on with Common Goal. And management tempts me but it is an unforgiving role. A coach depends on whether I take a corner well or finish a chance in front of goal and really, what influence does he have over this when it happens?

'I understand that people take decisions under pressure but the process is not valued, only results. I also want to work with youngsters, warn them of the perils and remind them of their responsibilities because it is sometimes easy to fall off the right track needed to get to the top level. Psychology also attracts me and in football, the mental aspect is very important, because if the mind is not settled, the feet do not work either.'

www.google.com.br/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5374081/amp/Man-United-star-Mata-fears-football-losing-soul.html

[RAZ]

Feb 9, 2018 22:49:57 GMT WhatsTheMata said:

Mata told the Panenka magazine: 'I see children now and many things surprise me: they ask me about my boots and why I don't die my hair. I wonder "Why don't you talk to me about how to cross the ball, control it, the position of the body when I strike the ball?"

'Previously, kids wanted a ball; nowadays they want boots and jerseys, they don't have a ball and they cannot play too much. Yet they don't mind because they can show off their boots and shirt and that's enough. Football is losing its essence, people talk about celebrations instead of goals.

'I am not criticising people talking about boots or haircuts but I would ask that people talk more about the other stuff, about the game itself.'

On the growth of social media, Mata also said he is baffled by the self-promotion of some players and clubs.

'New boots and videos filmed by players have the biggest reach and I get it to a certain extent but the footballer has changed,' Mata reflected. 'I am not so old but when I started out, we had none of this. We did not have the need to show the things we do and the good life we lead. That is dangerous. Social networks can be very positive because it's a great vehicle to communicate but perhaps things need to be done in a different way.'

Asked who can put the breaks on it, Mata insisted: 'The clubs should do it. It's about taking football back to its roots. If not, all that is left is to start training with a mobile phone in our hands and filming us doing freestyle touches, which during a real game isn't really effective.'

Mata has also said he is tempted by management when he retires.

'I would like to play until I'm 40 if my body allows me to,' he said. 'I will carry on with Common Goal. And management tempts me but it is an unforgiving role. A coach depends on whether I take a corner well or finish a chance in front of goal and really, what influence does he have over this when it happens?

'I understand that people take decisions under pressure but the process is not valued, only results. I also want to work with youngsters, warn them of the perils and remind them of their responsibilities because it is sometimes easy to fall off the right track needed to get to the top level. Psychology also attracts me and in football, the mental aspect is very important, because if the mind is not settled, the feet do not work either.'

www.google.com.br/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5374081/amp/Man-United-star-Mata-fears-football-losing-soul.html

how can you not love this man...

[Deleted]

Feb 10, 2018 0:33:39 GMT RAZ said:

Feb 9, 2018 22:49:57 GMT WhatsTheMata said:

Mata told the Panenka magazine: 'I see children now and many things surprise me: they ask me about my boots and why I don't die my hair. I wonder "Why don't you talk to me about how to cross the ball, control it, the position of the body when I strike the ball?"

'Previously, kids wanted a ball; nowadays they want boots and jerseys, they don't have a ball and they cannot play too much. Yet they don't mind because they can show off their boots and shirt and that's enough. Football is losing its essence, people talk about celebrations instead of goals.

'I am not criticising people talking about boots or haircuts but I would ask that people talk more about the other stuff, about the game itself.'

On the growth of social media, Mata also said he is baffled by the self-promotion of some players and clubs.

'New boots and videos filmed by players have the biggest reach and I get it to a certain extent but the footballer has changed,' Mata reflected. 'I am not so old but when I started out, we had none of this. We did not have the need to show the things we do and the good life we lead. That is dangerous. Social networks can be very positive because it's a great vehicle to communicate but perhaps things need to be done in a different way.'

Asked who can put the breaks on it, Mata insisted: 'The clubs should do it. It's about taking football back to its roots. If not, all that is left is to start training with a mobile phone in our hands and filming us doing freestyle touches, which during a real game isn't really effective.'

Mata has also said he is tempted by management when he retires.

'I would like to play until I'm 40 if my body allows me to,' he said. 'I will carry on with Common Goal. And management tempts me but it is an unforgiving role. A coach depends on whether I take a corner well or finish a chance in front of goal and really, what influence does he have over this when it happens?

'I understand that people take decisions under pressure but the process is not valued, only results. I also want to work with youngsters, warn them of the perils and remind them of their responsibilities because it is sometimes easy to fall off the right track needed to get to the top level. Psychology also attracts me and in football, the mental aspect is very important, because if the mind is not settled, the feet do not work either.'

www.google.com.br/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5374081/amp/Man-United-star-Mata-fears-football-losing-soul.html

how can you not love this man...

He's bang on the money with some of that.

[ratbag]

He comes across as a really decent bloke...I would love to meet him...

On another note, whoever writes this stuff needs to go back to school and learn to spell...

[CaajScot]

http://instagram.com/p/BfYOrGFFTcz

[CaajScot]

19/02/2018 09:45, Report by Juan Mata

MATA RELISHES RETURN TO SPAIN

Each and every Monday during the season, Manchester United star Juan Mata pens a personal blog. In his latest entry, the midfield maestro looks ahead to the return of Champions League football in his native Spain and the visit of his former club Chelsea in a big week for the Reds…

Hi everyone,

I’m writing this with my mind in Seville where, as you all know, this Wednesday we play a very important game. Yes, I know many of you want me to talk about the VAR, it’s just a few lines below ;-)… The Champions League is back and there’s a special atmosphere around here because all of us are really looking forward to having a good performance in this great tournament. I’m especially excited about playing in my country again, at the Sanchez Pizjuan, a major stadium where the local team always gets big support. I hope that we can see a great football game and that we get a good score for the second leg at Old Trafford, in front of our crowd.

Winning our game against Huddersfield and making it to the last eight of the FA Cup gave us confidence. Despite the local team putting pressure on us (a lot, actually), especially in the first half, we were able to take our chances to move one step forward in this nice competition. Brighton will be our opponent in the quarter-finals, at Old Trafford. A lot has been said about the goal that I scored and was disallowed by the VAR. It was my first time, a new experience for me (and for almost all of us, actually). The truth is, once you have celebrated the goal you are surprised and disappointed (as you could see on my face), but this time, luckily, that goal was not needed to win…

As I said in a few interviews after the game, even if this time it didn’t play in our favor, I think in the future the VAR will be helpful for the referees, who always have a difficult job, and eventually, it will bring more justice to football… Given that an unfair call or a wrong one might have significant consequences (sending a team to relegation, having a manager sacked, etc.), I understand that we must try to make the final result as fair as possible, and that’s where I think that a proper use of the VAR can be really helpful. Technology can help football to be more fair, especially nowadays when it seems that the result is the only thing that matters (we could write a whole book on this subject :-)). I believe, though, that such technology should be restricted to a few particular actions that are crucial in the game (in order to avoid too many interruptions), and especially that the final decision should take less time and be more clear than last Saturday’s…

This week is a very important one because after Sevilla we will be facing Chelsea. It’s a big game for many reasons and very special for me. It will always be. It’s one of the most difficult games of the season and a good opportunity to bring joy to our fans, although right now, I insist, we are absolutely focused on the Champions League against Sevilla.

They were, by the way, one of the teams in the top part of La Liga’s table that won this weekend. Actually, all of them did: Barcelona, Atletico, Valencia and Real Madrid too. The championship is very much alive and the fight for the European spots is going to be quite nice until the end.

Have a nice week.

Hugs,

Juan

www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2018/Feb/Juan-Mata-is-relishing-a-return-to-Spain-for-Manchester-United-Champions-League-tie-against-Sevilla.aspx

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[CaajScot]

[Sméagol]

[CaajScot]

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[CaajScot]

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