#4 Mata makes the difference
Having taken no part in the FA Cup tie against Chelsea, Mata’s energy was apparent. The Spaniard linked up extremely well with the wing-backs as well as Mkhitaryan to produce the dominance that United displayed in the first half.
The intricate link-ups between the 28-year-old and the Armenian were delightful to watch and led to the latter firing his shot wide of the target on more than just a couple of occasions. When Mata found the net with a simple tap-in, he gave Zlatan his 17th assist in Europe since Aug 2011 – a number only beaten by Ronaldo with 20 of his own. His goal also ensured progress in a competition which Mourinho will now start taking very seriously if interviews are to be believed.
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