Manchester United fell to a devastating defeat at Brighton on Sunday, and Jose Mourinho simply must drop Juan Mata after his shocking performance.
You’d be hard pushed to find a more likable footballer than Manchester United’s Mata, but the Spaniard may be nearing the end of his spell as a top Premier League player.
The 30 year-old ace made the switch to Old Trafford in 2014, and is absolutely adored by the fans for his passion, character and of course his tremendous quality on the ball.
However, there have been question marks about his defensive capabilities under Mourinho, and his performance against Brighton did little to quash those concerns.
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The 5 ft 7 ace picked up an assist in the opening day win over Leicester, but he was quite simply not in the game at the Amex Stadium on Sunday.
He touched the ball just 21 times, and wasn’t able to use the ball effectively when he did get it, completing zero dribbles, zero key passes and zero crosses.
The big talking point for Mata has often been his work rate and ability to track back, and unfortunately he had no impact on that end either, offering very little support to Ashley Young on that right hand side.
The veteran playmaker made no tackles, no interceptions and no clearances, and while that’s not really his role in the side, it will almost certainly tempt Mourinho to axe him.
The Red Devils absolutely must get a positive result against Tottenham next week, and Mata’s lack of athleticism and influence on the game is a huge concern. If Mourinho doesn’t drop him, Spurs’ overlapping full backs will punish the decision, and a defeat next week could kick-start a full on Mourinho meltdown.
So, Manchester United fans, what did you think of Mata’s performance? Was he the worst player on the pitch? Should he keep his place? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
