Three reasons why Manchester United will finish in the top four

How a new signing lifts up a team! Record signing Juan Mata enjoyed a winning debut on Tuesday as his new club recorded a 2-0 victory at home to Cardiff City in the Premier League which takes them seventh in the league table, sixth behind fourth placed Liverpool. But, can the Red Devils still finish in the top four. We here at Soccersouls provide our readers three reasons why United might just clinch a Champions League berth.

1. All that Matas

Juan Mata

If Juan Mata’s performance last night was to give any indication, then Manchester United would feel they have signed a player who would invigorate claims for a top four finish after a stuttering start to the 2013-14 campaign.

The 25 year old gave a glimpse of what is in store for the Old Trafford faithful as he was at the centre of every United attack against former United’s fan favourite, Ole Gunnar Soljasker’s men. The diminutive Spaniard played in his favourite number ten role, behind the lone striker, Robin Van Persie in David Moyes’ 4-4-1-1 setup.

Mata created three chances against the Welsh side and with more game time, he is sure to lay more balls for the front two up front when Wayne Rooney returns to link up with Van Persie to lead United’s strike force.

Going by stats, Mata had 86% passing accuracy and provided an assist too. Mata also dropped deep into midfield and drifted out wide too on occasions, to receive the ball and lay it inside and making more forward runs into the penalty box.

Creativity is something United have lacked this campaign, but with Mata now in the starting eleven, David Moyes can finally straighten the frowns on his forehead.

2. The belief is back or is it

If David Moyes’ side have to finish in a top four berth, they will have to believe in themselves. United have it in their genes to rescue matches from the most testing of times, and as former manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed, it would be too early to write them off.

It is a measure of how the expectations have changed at Old Trafford that title talk has been replaced by questions of a Champions League berth, it’s rightly a period of transition for the defending Champions.

Moreover, the last two days of the transfer window might see a another good player still joining the Red Devils, thus this where I feel the belief needs to be back that they can bulldoze any side on their path in the second half of the campaign.

3. The key men are back

Tuesday’s match against Cardiff also saw the return of strike duo Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney from injury. Mata was quick to note the significance of their return.

Mata said:

“We are talking about two of the best strikers in the world, they are unbelievable. Hopefully they will score a lot of goals until the end of the season. We will try until the end, for sure,”

“I think this is a team who never give up. So every game is like a final for us and we will try to win all of them.”

Now with the key men back in the squad, Moyes would believe he has the resource for the task and must believe it’s not too late if the Red Devils are to seal a top four place despite the relative fragilities in the early half of the campaign.