Juan Mata Happy With Louis Van Gaal's Style

Juan Mata has insisted that he is "happy" with new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal's style of football.

The Spanish midfielder, who became the club's record signing during the January transfer window, is part of the squad currently in the United States for the team's pre-season tour, which is their first under the former Netherlands coach.

"This is my first pre-season with United and I'm enjoying it, the journey was good, the hotel is nice and the training ground is great. It's the start of a new era for the club, with a new manager and players coming in," The Mirror quotes Mata as saying.

"I'm really happy with the manager's style of football and hopefully at the end of the season we can celebrate something, which would be amazing for him and for us.



"We're focused on improving and trying to learn from the manager, to play at our best level during the season. The main idea is to play as a team and compete for titles."

United begin their tour with a match against Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday morning.

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RESULT: Juan Mata's Brace Help Man United crush Newcastle United

Juan Mata scored a brace as Manchester United climbed up to sixth in the Premier League with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Newcastle United.

Early on, Marouane Fellaini had a goal disallowed for handball before Papiss Cisse twice went close for Newcastle, with Anders Lindegaard keeping out the Senegalese frontman.

Mata put United in front seven minutes before half time when his 20-yard free kick curled up over the wall and into the top corner.

The Red Devils were almost two up by half time when Javier Hernandez linked up with Shinji Kagawa before drilling low against the foot of the post.

Five minutes after the break it was two when Mata coolly slotted home Hernandez's cutback.

Hernandez got himself on the scoresheet to make it three midway through the second half by tucking home a Kagawa centre.

Lindegaard made another save to keep out Cisse before Januzaj rounded off a comfortable afternoon by playing a one-two with Mata before slotting past Rob Elliot at his near post.

Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk

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SPORTS: Mata Needs Time - Rooney

Wayne Rooney has said that it will take time before Manchester United fans see the best of club-record signing Juan Mata.

Excitement among supporters was high when Mata stepped out of a helicopter and signed for United in a £37.1million transfer from Chelsea in January. The Spaniard had an instant impact at Stamford Bridge, but he has made a steady rather than stunning start to life at Old Trafford.

Mata has only tasted victory once since his move to the north-west, but he has set Robin van Persie up twice in the three matches he has played. Rooney is convinced United have signed a true star in Mata, though, and he is looking forward to the prospect of playing alongside the Spaniard and Van Persie on a regular basis.

"It's exciting," Rooney said. "Juan has come in and it's another world-class player to have in the squad. It'll take time - it can always take a little bit of time for every player to gel and to bond but we really hope we can all start scoring goals and help the team be successful."

A 0-0 draw at Arsenal on Wednesday put a further dent in United's UEFA Champions League prospects. Moyes' men sit 11 points behind fourth-place Liverpool but one advantage they have over their rivals is that they now have an eight-day wait until their next game against Crystal Palace.

"We've got a lot of massive games in the Champions League and the league. We're all looking forward to them". - Wayne Rooney

Moyes has decided to take his squad to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp during that time and Rooney feels the trip will be a big help ahead of a crucial run-in for the reigning champions.

"It's nice to spend time together," the striker said. "When you're at home you go to training then you go home and see your families, but with trips like this you're training then spending time with the lads. It's good for us all to be together.

"It's a different environment for us and hopefully we can get some good training sessions in so we come back ready for the Palace game and the start of the Champions League. We've got a lot of massive games in the Champions League and the league. We're all looking forward to them."

Had Van Persie been more clinical, United would have headed to Dubai on the back of a win, but Wojciech Szczesny's brilliant second half save meant both teams took home a point. Although the draw meant United lost ground in the hunt for the top four, Rooney hopes the result at the Emirates will give Moyes's men some momentum in the coming weeks.

"Coming to Arsenal any time and getting a point is always a good result," Rooney said. "You have to take confidence from it. We've been stop-start for most of the season, but we hope we can build on this. We have a bit of a break before our next game now and hopefully we can prepare well and kick on for the big matches coming up."

Source: Fifa.com

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NEWS: Mata Completes Record Man United Move

Spanish attacking midfielder Juan Mata completed his record £37.1m transfer from Chelsea to Manchester United after completing a medical at the English champions.

United had already confirmed on Friday that they had agreed a deal to sign the 25-year-old for a club-record fee.

"Today is a very happy day... It's a massive club and I feel very proud to be here," Mata told manutd.com.

"I am thrilled to be joining. United is the perfect place for me."

United manager David Moyes described Mata as "one of the finest playmakers in the game".

"It's a real pleasure to have secured his signature," Moyes said.

The deal eclipsed the £30.75m that United paid Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 to sign Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Mata joined Chelsea from Valencia in 2011 and was voted the club's player of the year in his first two seasons, but he has fallen out of favour since Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge as manager last year.

Mata is expected to go straight into the squad for United's home game against Cardiff City in the league on Tuesday.

His signing reflects Moyes's eagerness to arrest a startling decline in United's fortunes since he succeeded fellow-Scot Alex Ferguson as manager at the end of last season.

United are currently 14 points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League and have been knocked out of both the FA Cup and the League Cup this month, although they have reached the last 16 in the UEFA Champions League.

United striker Robin van Persie welcomed Mata's arrival, writing on Twitter: "Welcome Juan Mata see you all tuesday."

Centre-back Rio Ferdinand tweeted: "Welcome to my amigo @juanmata10! Hoping you enjoy ya time here and help continue the success at this club."

Mata will join countryman David de Gea at Old Trafford and the United goalkeeper gave his fellow Spaniard a playful welcome, tweeting: "Welcome to my brother @juanmata10 just one thing....Not the best clothes!"

Meanwhile, reports in the British media on Saturday claimed that United have opened talks with striker Wayne Rooney over a new contract.

The 28-year-old England striker has 18 months remaining on his current deal and was the subject of two unsuccessful bids from Chelsea during the close season.

Source: Fifa.com

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