Video: 45-pass build up to Juan Mata's goal against Southampton

Juan Mata has now scored 2 goals in 6 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils

Manchester United scored the perfect goal in Sunday’s 3-2 win against Southampton courtesy of Juan Mata’s goal. According to United manager Louis Van Gaal, his philosophy is finally starting to work as the Red Devils are now just two points behind league leaders Manchester City in the league table and are slowly gathering momentum.

The Red Devils came back in great fashion against the Saints despite their disappointing 2-1 defeat to PSV during the midweek of their Champions League fixture. Louis Van Gaal believes his Red Army is slowly gathering momentum in the league and this was evident through the Spaniard's 68th-minute strike at the St Mary’s Stadium which was enough to wrap up another three points for his side.

Although Juan Mata slotted the ball into the net from Depay’s earlier attempt that had seen come out off the post, the build-up to the goal was no doubt exquisite and almost Barcelona-esque in style of play with a lengthy 45-pass build-up which was enough to impress the Dutch manager on the day.

45 - There were 45 passes in the build up to Mata's goal for Man Utd in this game; the most in the PL in 2015-16. Ace pic.twitter.com/nnqXnWVSh9

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 20, 2015

Most of the Manchester United players were involved in the build-up to the goal, with short exchange of passes played from left to right and vice versa. They mixed it up by playing the ball across the field along with one-two passes between players on either flank before the German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger played the killer pass to Depay from the edge of the box.

Depay was unfortunate not to register his name on the scoring sheet as his shot came off the woodwork to Mata who showed enough composure to tap it home and seal all the three points back to Manchester.

Besides Mata’s goal, youngster Anthony Martial also picked up a brace against the Saints and is already on course to prove the doubters wrong when he was brought into the squad for a very high price.

United seem to be in strong position to compete against rivals City, Arsenal and Chelsea for the league title this season but most importantly, the Old Trafford faithful will be delighted with their team’s fine display and will be hoping they push forward from here on.

Here’ s a look at the build-up to Mata’ s goal.