How can Manchester United get the best out of Mata

Manchester United are about to break the transfer record for Juan Mata

Manchester United’s first phase of rebuilding has begun with the club on the verge of breaking their transfer record in order to acquire the services of Chelsea’s Juan Mata. David Moyes’s side have been struggling for form this season and a new midfielder was desperately needed in order to address the lack of creativity in his side.

Juan Mata is as creative as they come so it is no surprise that Moyes moved to capture the out of favor Spaniards signature quickly. Arsenal‘s Mesut Ozil has proved that one man can make a very big difference to the side but it remains to be seen if Mata will do the same thing to his new club.

The midfielder had fallen out of favor under Jose Mourinho as the manager preferred to build the team around Oscar and restricting Mata to just 17 appearances in all competitions under him this season. Mata will be relieved to finally get some first team football and would love the chance to prove him magic, which led him to win the Chelsea Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons, to David Moyes.

The 25-year-old started his career with Real Ovideo and then moved to Real Madrid where he finished as the teams second highest scorer in his final season before moving to Valencia where he finally blossomed as a player.

Mata was an ever present figure for Valencia scoring 44 goals in all competitions for them and even finished the 2008-2009 season with 13 assists just 1 short of Barcelona’s Xavi. The players talents finally got the attention of Chelsea who paid Valencia £23.5 million for his services in the summer of 2011.

At Chelsea, Mata became one of the Premier League’s most feared attacking midfielders scoring 6 goals and assisting 13 in his first season and finding the back of the net 12 times and notching up 12 assists in his second season.

Mata was deployed in a free role in the center of the park at Chelsea which is the reason he preformed so well for them. Manchester United will have to tweak their formation in order to make place for him or else his form will suffer. In order to accommodate Mata in United’s system Moyes must take an example from Arsene Wenger.

Wenger brought Mesut Ozil a player who operates in the same position as Santi Cazorla to Arsenal and moved Cazorla to the wing in where he made a good impact on the game. Such adjustments are necessary if you want to get the best out of the team.

A 4-3-3 formation can be adopted by United where Mata, Rooney and RVP will spearhead the attack while Kagawa operate behind them. Moyes should also try grooming Mata into a more traditional midfielder.

Just because he hasn’t been used in the center of the park does not mean that he is incapable of performing that role. Moyes must be having an idea of how to use Mata or else he wouldn’t have splashed out so much on him.

Unlike Kagawa who wasn’t used to the Premier League when he was bought by Sir Alex, Mata has plenty of experience in England and should have no problem adjusting to their system. Kagawa is also beginning to find his feet in the Premier League which is a good sign as there would be no selection headaches.

Mata should have no problems about winning the love of the Old Trafford faithful as they are desperate for some wins and would instantly take to the prolific Spaniard if he replicates his Chelsea form.

However it doesn’t take a single player make a change it takes a team. A few more world class signs would have to be made in the next transfer window in order to make United the team they were under Sir Alex. If Mata comes good he will surely help make Old Trafford a fortress once again.