There were many reactions a year ago (roughly) when it was learned that Jose Mourinho was replacing Louis van Gaal as Manager at Manchester United. One of the most basic impulse responses, among those well-informed, was “hey Juan Mata isn’t going to like this. He’s going to want out.”
It seemed logical given how Mata was glued to the bench at Chelsea when United brought him over, for a then club record £37.1 million transfer in January 2014.
Although he lacked for playing time at Stamford Bridge, Mata found himself again at Old Trafford and conventional wisdom held that he might soon find himself back on the bench in Mourinho’s United.
Last summer, there were many who just assumed the Spaniard was inevitably out the door.
Not the case at all, as Juan Mata has been a huge part of what United have done this season, and ahead of their 1-0 win at Celta Vigo today in the Europa League semifinal, Mata described his relationship with Jose Mourinho, all of it positive.
In an interview with El Pais (which means “the nation/country” in English), Juan Mata said of his relationship with Jose Mourinho:
“What has changed is the context of the club, the squad and the way that each team plays. I have never had a bad relationship with him. We have never had an argument. We have a normal relationship.”
“Simply, it is that in Chelsea he wanted to play in a certain way and in United there is another set of players who mesh better with my characteristics. But we are both the same people, we have not changed.”
In the same interview Mata was asked what his ideal manager would be like. “He should be a leader in good times and bad and he should strive to get the best out of each player. It is complicated but to deal with personalities is almost more important than tactics or fitness,” the veteran leader responded.
“You must have the capacity to motivate the players and you must have positive communication with them, and the environment surrounding the team also has to be positive. People express themselves better when they feel comfortable. It is like that in all jobs, even football.”
Juan Mata missed eight games down the stretch of this season due to surgery to repair a groin injury, but was named to the substitute list against Swansea City last Sunday and again today for the Europa semi-final. He did not see action in either of the two games, but figures to see time against Arsenal on Sunday.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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