After taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson officially on July 1 of last year, former Everton manager David Moyes and his new Chairman Ed Woodward endured a terrible summer transfer market. Moyes targeted Cesc Fabregas, Daniele De Rossi, Fabio Coentrao, Leighton Baines and Ander Herrera but only managed to sign Marouanne Fellaini. Manchester United started the season with a win at Swansea City but has since endured a very bad run of form.
After taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson officially on July 1 of last year, former Everton manager David Moyes and his new Chairman Ed Woodward endured a terrible summer transfer market. Moyes targeted Cesc Fabregas, Daniele De Rossi, Fabio Coentrao, Leighton Baines and Ander Herrera but only managed to sign Marouanne Fellaini. Manchester United started the season with a win at Swansea City but has since endured a very bad run of form.
The Red Devils has won just 11 of their 22 league games so far while losing 7 with notable losses at Old Trafford to West Brom, Everton and Newcastle. Moyes has never had a healthy squad to select from with injuries to key players in defence and attack forcing him to be chopping and changing rather than settling with a stable starting 11.
The Old Trafford faithful as well as everyone at Man United seems to need a spark to kick-start their campaign. That spark could definitely be the new accusation from Chelsea, Juan Mata. The diminutive playmaker has had a sparkling career so far starting out at Real Madrid in their youth academy. Mata moved to Valencia in 2007 playing alongside the likes of David Villa, David Silva and David Albelda. He spent four seasons at the Mestalla featuring in 129 La Liga games scoring 33 goals while winning the Copa Del Rey in 2008. Mata impressed for his club and made it to the 2009 Confederations Cup as well as being a member of the winning World Cup Squad in 2010.
In the summer of 2011, Mata was brought to Stamford Bride by then Chelsea manager Andre-Villa Boas for a reported 23.5M. He was instrumental in his debut campaign scoring 12 goals and grabbing 20 assists in all competitions, winning the Champions League and the FA Cup in 2012. He was rewarded with a place in Spain’s Euro 2012 winning squad for his fantastic displays at Stamford Bridge. In the 2012/2013 season he formed a great partnership with Eden Hazard and Oscar behind the main striker, earning them the nickname ‘The Three Amigos.’ Mata was again Chelsea’s main source of creativity scoring 19 goals while bagging 28 assists in all competitions, winning the Europa League under manager Rafael Benitez. Mata was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year for the second time in 2013.
The appointment of Jose Mourinho saw Mata frozen out of the squad because Mourinho sees Oscar as his ‘true’ number 10. This is because Oscar has the ability to cover a lot of ground, press high up the pitch to regain possession and has the stamina to fulfil his attacking duties but still able to defend as much as possible as demanded by the Portuguese manager. The 25 year old Spaniard knew his chances of a place in Vicente Del Bosque squad for Brazil was fading quickly and so he never hesitated when David Moyes and Manchester United approached him for his signature.
Mata expressed his desire to join Man United and Mourinho never stood in his way. Upon completing his transfer, the playmaker said he was delighted to be a part of such a big club. He was quoted on MUTV saying: ‘Chelsea is a top club and I have many friends there but you cannot turn down the chance to join Manchester United. I look forward to helping the manager and the team to be successful in the coming years. I am thrilled to be joining United. I have enjoyed some very happy years at Chelsea but the time has come for a new challenge. United is the perfect place for me and I am excited at the chance I have to be part of the next phase in the club’s history.’
The manager also expressed excitement about the acquisition of this world class attacker. Moyes said: ‘Juan is one of the finest playmakers in the game today and it’s a real pleasure to have secured his signature. He’s been instrumental in Chelsea’s recent success, with a notable 28 assists and 32 goals in his last two Premier League seasons. I have been impressed with the excitement he has shown to be part of the new Manchester United. I know our fans have admired Juan for some time now – he has always played well against us – and I know they will be delighted to see him in the red of United, starting on Tuesday.’
Mata is no doubt a very big signing but many still wonder where he will play at Man United. He will surely bring a creative spark and a new dimension to their play but with Shinji Kagawa also a number ten player, one would think he will feature out wide. Wayne Rooney has been Moyes’ preference playing behind the striker but that is where the Spaniard is at his best. He has featured out wide early in his career at Valencia and sometimes at Chelsea but number 10 is where he will do the most damage.
Mata is a very gifted player in all departments. He is very sound technically, has got great vision and his passing range is right up there with the best in the world. He is a very crafty little player who just seems to glide around the pitch, drifting in between the lines and getting into positions that are very difficult to defend against. He is very good in tight situations, has the eye for a killer pass and his goal-scoring record speaks for itself. He will surely bring goals from midfield that Manchester United desperately needs and the young players as well as his fellow attacking compatriots can learn from this wonderfully gifted Spaniard.
Photo: David Moyes and Juan Mata Courtesy Man Utd.com
Yashiema Love
Senior Contributor
GIVEMESPORT Writing Academy
Cell: 862-9107
Email: yashiemalove15@yahoo.com
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