Manchester United 2-1 Real Madrid: 5 Positives for Red Devils from the game

#2 Mata coming good as supporting striker

Juan Mata has been starting as a supporting striker with Sanchez for the past couple of games. His first touch and control on the ball is so good that it opens up defences again and again. What he lacks in pace, he makes up in skill and control. And his understanding with Sanchez seems to be getting better with each passing day. Like the game against Liverpool, against Real too, time and again, he located Sanchez with his passes. He latched on to Darmian’s pass well and had the composure to wait for Sanchez to arrive in position. Ultimately, it was his lofted pass that Sanchez knocked down for Herrera to score.

He has had a good pre-season so far, he has had to adapt to his game, rising up to new challenges for the team and he gives Mourinho different options. On the form that he is in, he should start in the Number 10 role against Leicester City.

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Edited by Amar Anand