• Leicester 5-3 Manchester United

Mata lost for words over 'sad' Leicester defeat

Juan Mata was at a loss to explain the "sad way" in which Manchester United lost at Leicester City on Sunday.

All looked rosy in the United camp last week when they routed QPR 4-0 at Old Trafford - in which Mata scored his eighth goal for the club. But the Spaniard dropped to the bench for the visit to Leicester, where United led 2-0 and 3-1 before going down 5-3.

Writing in his blog, Mata admitted it was a tense journey home from the King Power Stadium.

'Falcao is a better striker than Rooney'

Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney's roles have been the subject of much debate this season © PA Photos

• Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes Wayne Rooney is more suited to the No.10 role - suggesting Juan Mata's place in the starting XI is under threat.
• Mata played off Rooney and Robin van Persie in the 4-0 drubbing of QPR last week, but Van Gaal opted to play Radamel Falcao against Leicester, with Rooney falling back and Mata dropping to the bench.
• Speaking before the game, Van Gaal said: "I was not so satisfied with Rooney as a striker and Mata [in the No.10 role] and that's why I'm changing.
• "Rooney can play in more positions, he's a multi-functional player and I have tried him in a striker's position. He's played well but not spectacular and Falcao is a striker and I think he can do it better."
• "Rooney is a better player behind the strikers."

"I have waited a few hours before facing the white screen to try to express how I feel after the game in Leicester," Mata revealed.

"After a whole week waiting for the match I could not imagine a Sunday like this. It's really tough to score three goals away and come back home with no points.

"On our way back to Manchester I was thinking about what had happened and felt so disappointed as all those that came with us to the stadium.

"Honestly, I feel very sorry that the weekend ended up for our fans in such a sad way."

Captain Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, says he and his team-mates made too many "bitterly disappointing" mistakes.

He added: "We should have seen the game off, and we should have kept the ball better. We didn't do that, we made a few mistakes and it has cost us.

"Leicester played a lot of long balls and we struggled a little bit with those.

"Overall, it wasn't good enough as a team. We played some good stuff at times and scored some great goals, but we made too many mistakes as a team and have to do better.

"We gave away a sloppy goal straight after we got our second. That lifted the crowd, but we have to do better. It's bitterly disappointing that we didn't."

United, and manager Louis van Gaal, will have a chance to right their wrongs with back-to-back home games against West Ham and Everton.

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