2016-2017 Season Performance Review: Juan Mata
Pre-Season
Juan Mata started the pre-season well with the first assist under Jose Mourinho. The Spaniard teed up the young striker Will Keane who buried the goal. Mata played all 90 minutes in the 4-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. Mata assisted Henrikh Mkhitaryan on United’s only goal. Juan Mata started the match against Galatasaray on the bench but came on in the second half and notched United’s final goal in the 5-2 win. Mata had a very successful pre-season despite all the transfer rumors linking him away from United.
Start of the Season
Mata started the first 3 games of the season and scored the first goal of the season for United against Bournemouth. The Spaniard featured a lot in the beginning of the season and in one of his best games, he scored a great team goal and provided an assist against Leicester City. In the EFL Cup game against Manchester City, he was able to send United through by scoring the lone goal against the Citizens. Mata notched two more goals by the New Year and became an essential part of the United attack.
Mid Season
The attacking midfielder started January very hot with 2 assists and a goal within eight days of each other. He started February just as well with 2 goals in the first couple of matches. The Spaniard was a mainstay in the lineup all the way up to the EFL Cup and featured in United’s big win over Southampton.
End of the season
After the 3-1 win over Middlesbrough, Juan Mata sat on the sidelines for all of April. He underwent groin surgery and had a long spell on the sidelines. While many thought he may be out for the rest of the season, Mata returned in the 2-0 loss to Arsenal. He featured a couple more times in the Premier League before getting the start against Ajax in the Europa League final. Mata had a great season and remained an integral part of the United team. He always seems to score and held true to this statement throughout the season.
Overall Stats
Juan Mata featured 41 times for Manchester United this season. He missed a chunk of the season due to surgery, but featured in almost all matches he was healthy for. He scored 10 goals and provided 4 assists for the Red Devils this season. He had another great season for United and will look to continue to be huge part of Manchester United’s attack.