Juan Mata has spoken about playing on the right for Manchester United, a position that doesn’t come naturally to him. Mata has been United’s most effective player this season, with one goal and two assists in the league, and he claims he enjoys the position he is being played in.
I’ve really enjoyed it. Obviously I am not a winger, if you imagine an old-school winger who is trying to play one-against-one and to cross the ball. I try to find my spaces from the right and cut inside and in behind, and try to assist my team-mates. I really enjoy it there. I think it’s very important for us to create little triangles on the wings with myself and Matteo [Darmian] and then with the midfield. That’s what the manager wants and we can play inside and outside. It’s good for us to be able to create chances for the striker.
Mata has been playing in this position for several months now and he believes that have this consistency improves his performances.
It helps. You get more used to the players, you get more used to the movement of your team-mates, but I also think it’s good for me and any player to be able to play in different positions, not just on the right or left or as a no.10. I have played in those positions a lot in my career but I think I can play in every position offensively in the team and I think that’s good for me to grow as a player.
