Manchester United got the better of Manchester City on Wednesday night in their EFL Cup round of 16 clash. The Derby came at a time the Red Devils needed a breather following a series of poor results in the league, with Sunday’s 4-nil loss at the Stamford Bridge the heaviest of their recent blows.
And there wouldn’t have been a better way to get back on their feet than coming out tops against such bitter rivals. Definitely not one of the most entertaining Derbys given the gulf in quality as Pep Guardiola chose to field a lot of his fringe players, it was however, a keenly contest affair, and Juan Mata helped secure a crucial win for the hosts in a game that had very few chances.
Manchester City failed to register a shot on target in the game, the 1st time that has happened since 2012. Mourinho’s side, however, registered just 2 shots on target, and the one that resulted in the game’s only goal came from an unlikely source.
While Mata isn’t the most prolific midfielder there, having hit double figures just twice in his 11-year career, he has the record of influencing games with his overall attacking contributions, be it with crucial goals, assists, 2nd assists or chances creations.
Since making his debut in the Manchester United Jersey in January 2014, Juan Mata has had a hand in 47 of United’s goals till date (29 goals and 18 assists), only the side’s skipper Rooney (58) has made more contributions in this regards within that time frame.
Since the start of the season, Mata has played 7 league games but hasn’t completed any of his 5 starts. Yet he has shown how important he can be to the team’s success with his offensive contributions. Despite his limited playing minutes, he has created 7 chances, scored 2 goals and registered an assist.
His presence in the lineup has the tendency of providing Manchester United the needed attacking verve, and how worse things would have gone for them without Mata’s influence is anyone’s guess.
The 28-year-old has completed over 220 passes with a 90% accuracy behind them, and his shot accuracy is at 88%. To say the Spaniard is the best attacker in the current Manchester United ranks will be an understatement, and it’s more surprising that he has being in a great form in recent times under Jose Mourinho.
He has convinced the Portuguese of his quality despite many predicting that his arrival would spell the end of Mata’s Manchester United career.
His versatility at being able to play on the right wing just as good as he is able to through the middle has come very handy, and Jose can’t turn a blind eye to his quality. He couldn’t, and can’t afford to.
Juan Mata has shown he has a big role to play in United’s title ambitions this season and will continue to be the major factor behind most of their attacking success and exploits in the final third.
The ease with which he is able to lay the right pass to the right man at the right moment, and also start off the moves that result in chances creation is parallel to none. Suffice to say he will be a very important figure for United this season, and if fielded properly and more, Mourinho will reap the fruits.
Experiencing a live football match in a stadium is genuinely remarkable. The atmosphere differs significantly from watching on a screen. The energy and excitement are contagious, immersing you in the game like never before. If you're gearing up for your inaugural football match, knowing what to expect is essential. The sheer intensity of being surrounded by hundreds or thousands of passionate fans can be overwhelming. To ensure you make the most of this unique experience, here are some tips for first-timers: Secure Tickets Early Getting tickets is crucial, especially for popular events like the World Cup or highly anticipated matches. Buying online is often the most convenient method. As the season progresses, ticket demand increases, leading to quick sell-outs. Prices can vary based on team popularity, stadium quality, and other factors. You can think about buying your tickets in cryptocurrency. Consider using USDT but first understand tether meaning to know how to go about it. If you have a specific team or player you want to see, plan accordingly by checking their schedule and securing tickets early for the best experience. …
FRANCE WIN 14-0 🤯Les Bleus score 14 (FOURTEEN) times vs. Gibraltar for their biggest-ever win.…
Aston Villa are having a very fine season so far in the Premier League. The…
The Premier League run-in, the backend of the title race for Manchester City sees them…
Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…
Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…