• Premier League

Mata: United can still win the title

ESPN staff
January 27, 2014
Is Mata the right fit for United?

Juan Mata insists Manchester United can still win the Premier League title and said the club's fighting spirit and character was a major attraction for him.

Mata completed a £37.1 million move from Chelsea on Saturday and marked his unveiling at United by admitting his last few months at Stamford Bridge were "difficult", but refused to blame Jose Mourinho.

Having become the most expensive signing in United's history, Mata is adamant he can cope with the pressure of expectations at Old Trafford.

And though he joins a team who are seventh in the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, he believes the defending champions could still retain their crown.

I'm kind of a big deal

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"I think if another club would be in this position in the league, it would be very, very difficult for them to come back and take the first position in the league," said Mata.

"I think this club can do it. It can always can do it because this club is used to fighting to the end with character. This is the real image I have of Manchester United, always fighting to win titles, always trying to win every title and always coming back from difficult moments."

United's players have been criticised when they have struggled this season but Mata said he is impressed by the quality at Old Trafford.

He added: "The team is really good and the squad is really good. I think this season they had some unlucky moments they didn't deserve. I think this change could be from now and hopefully it will be better until the end of the season and we will win as many games as we can."

Mata was Chelsea's player of the year in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge but lost his place in the side in the current campaign as Mourinho preferred to build his team around Oscar.

And Mata said: "In football everything is possible. The first two seasons in Chelsea for me were amazing. I settled down so quickly and the fans were unbelievable. The last six months were difficult because I didn't play as much as I wanted but I respect that.

"Jose is a very good manager, the squad is unbelievable, they have top, top players and I think they have one of the best squads in the Premier League. I respected all my team-mates, I just tried my best in training and every game and the minutes I had but when Manchester United came it was a great option for me to carry on with my career."

Mata, who replaces Dimitar Berbatov as United's club record buy, said he will welcome the pressure life at Old Trafford will bring.

He explained: "It's time for me to show the football I have inside me, what I showed in the last two seasons in London.

"I think it is good for a footballer to try and improve when you have pressure and people are expecting big things from you. I am really looking forward to it. I will try my best and help the team and make these amazing fans happy.

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