The Red Devils thrashed Leicester City 4-1 with the Spaniard among the goals at Old Trafford.
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata believes their 4-1 victory over Leicester City was the perfect response to their recent wobbles in the Premier League, he told the club’s official website.
First half goals from Chris Smalling, Mata, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba put an end to back-to-back defeats in the league, with United rising to sixth and six points off Manchester City at the top of the table.
Mata was widely expected to leave United following the arrival of Jose Mourinho, who sold him while the pair were at Chelsea, but the 28-year-old has been a regular feature in the Portuguese’s side so far this campaign.
While neighbours City lead the way, Mourinho’s side knew they needed a response to their derby defeat and loss to Watford in their last two league outings and Mata believes they provided an emphatic one, dismantling the champions on Saturday lunchtime.
“I think we needed something like this,” he acknowledged in the wake of their 4-1 victory. “There has been a lot of talk about the team in recent weeks but we scored four different goals and showed what we could do.
“Once you score the first one and the second one, you gain confidence and it’s great for the fans because it’s been a while since they have had something to celebrate like this.”
It has not been easy for United at times despite spending big to bring in the likes of Eric Bailly and Paul Pogba.
The form of Wayne Rooney has been a hot topic for most of the season to date, culminating in the striker’s absence from the starting line up, and defeat at home to City and away to Feyenoord and Watford gave critics plenty of ammunition against the Red Devils.
But a much-needed win over Leicester, complete with Pogba opening his account, has given some cause for optimism in Manchester and given the critics a full showing of United’s title credentials.
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