Manchester United star says tactical awareness has helped him overcome his “tiny” frame

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Juan Mata isn’t the most imposing of beasts, but that hasn’t stopped him becoming one of English football’s most reliable playmakers.

Juan Mata has told FourFourTwo that his intelligence and awareness has enabled him to thrive in the Premier League despite his “physically tiny” frame.

The playmaker joined Manchester United in January 2014 for a then club-record £37.1 million fee, according to the BBC, with his appreciation of space and tactical awareness making him a reliable taker and creator of chances since arriving English football from Valencia.

Mata adapted almost immediately to a league notoriously quicker and more physical than its Spanish counterpart, and the 28-year-old has attributed his success at United and former club Chelsea to his mental, rather than physical, attributes.

“In England there are many big, strong players, which means I have to think a bit more because of the difference in size between myself and a lot of players,” Mata told FourFourTwo.

“If you’re not tall or strong you have to move earlier and try to find the spaces before your rival. The mental side of the game is really important for smaller players – if you try and stand toe to toe with a bigger man then it’s very difficult to come out on top.

“Even though I’m physically tiny I still make sure I do my physical work as well to make sure I avoid injuries and so I have a base level of strength with which to shield the ball.”

Despite posting an impressive goal record since arriving at Old Trafford, Mata is yet to truly replicate the form that convinced Manchester United that he would be the answer to their creative problems.

He also struggled to make an impact in United’s tepid 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday night (below), but his average of 16 goals and assists per season during five years in English football remains one of the highest in the division.