Juan Mata wants Manchester United to show unity as they look to bounce back from their lacklustre defeat at Huddersfield.
United’s first Premier League defeat of the season, a leaden-footed 2-1 reverse, saw manager Jose Mourinho tear into his side’s ‘poor attitude’ and lack of desire.
But Mata, who was hooked at half-time at the John Smith’s Stadium, has called for the team to pull together and return to the methods which saw them secure 10 wins and two draws from their previous 12 matches.
In his blog on the club’s official website, the Spaniard wrote: ‘We knew this moment would arrive sooner or later, although that’s something you never wish for, of course.
‘Now, it’s time to learn from mistakes and keep going, as we always do, showing that the team sticks together when things don’t go so well, which is when we need it most.
‘Since the European Super Cup defeat last summer, we’ve been performing really well against all kind of opponents. On Saturday, though, Huddersfield played their cards better than us and took all three points. All we can do now is congratulate them and move on. This is a not a sprint, but a marathon and there is still a long way to go.
‘Let’s not forget that, before that game, we had got a good win in Lisbon. We beat a very good side in Benfica, a team with plenty of Champions League experience.’
The Red Devils have an early opportunity to wipe the slate clean, as they continue their defence of the Carabao Cup with Tuesday’s last-16 trip to Swansea.
From there it is back to Old Trafford for the visit of Tottenham, who thrashed Liverpool at the weekend to go level with United on 20 points.
By Saturday evening it should become clear whether Mata’s optimism is shared in the dressing room.
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