Even the Premier League’s perfect son-in-law has his limits. At a visit to a Special Olympics project in Madrid, where he has charmed children, staff and fellow visitors alike, Juan Mata’s good humour momentarily slips when asked how he feels about being perceived as a luxury item, a description originating from the deeds and words of José Mourinho. “If a luxury player is a player who scores and assists and has good stats, then I’m happy to be a luxury player,” Mata says pointedly.
Mata has the numbers on his side, which is surprising given that he was the first big-name player to be ditched on his return to Chelsea by Mourinho, a manager whose statistical analysis is always empirically exhaustive.
The Spain midfielder was followed out of Stamford Bridge by Kevin de Bruyne, David Luiz, Fernando Torres, André Schürrle and Juan Cuadrado, but as Chelsea fans contemplate how Mourinho can turn their season round, it is Mata they would most like to see back at the club where he won the player-of-the-year award in his final two seasons.
Much of Mata’s appeal stems from the stylish way he plays and his humble persona, yet he delivers on a consistent basis. No Premier League midfielder has produced a higher number of goals and assists than his tally of 74 over the past five seasons, while despite United’s inconsistency he has actually become more productive since moving to Old Trafford in January last year.
The 27-year-old has been directly involved in 45 per cent of the 25 goals United have scored this season, while he has already matched his haul of 18 Barclays Premier League goals for Chelsea in 26 fewer matches.
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“I’ve scored as many goals for Manchester United in the Premier League as for Chelsea, but in something like 30 games less,” Mata says. “In terms of scoring and assisting I’m quite happy with the stats, and stats don’t lie. They are facts.
“I want luxury players in my team. I like creative players, and players who do different things. It’s easy to say certain players are luxuries, especially when you’ve lost a game. When you lose, a certain kind of player — the creative players — always get the blame.”
Mata is reluctant to address the Mourinho issue any further, but his description of the circumstances behind his departure from Chelsea is instructive. Having picked Chelsea’s reigning player of the year with increasing infrequency on his return to the club in the summer of 2013, Mourinho abruptly sold him without explanation the January after, letting it be known that he felt Mata lacked the pace and workrate required by his teams.
De Bruyne was also transferred in the same month without speaking to Mourinho as Oscar emerged as his preferred No 10, a decision that looks ever more questionable given that the Brazilian is struggling in west London while his former team-mates are thriving in Manchester.
“I’ve not tried to prove anyone wrong,” Mata says, although his defiant tone speaks for itself. “I didn’t speak with Mourinho like he has spoken with you, for example. I never had any explanations and didn’t ask for them. But what is past is past. I will always be very grateful to Chelsea for everything they did for me, but I had a chance to join a great club and am enjoying it here.
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“I’ve got a good record with goals and assists and hopefully we can reach a point where we win trophies, which is what I did at Chelsea.”
Louis van Gaal is hardly a soft touch, but the apparent contrast with Mourinho in his methods and man management is striking. Mata eulogises about the Dutchman’s openness and honesty, whether it be screaming in players’ faces as he did at half-time of United’s Barclays Premier League defeat by Arsenal a fortnight ago, or praising them in front of their peers. Mata has had more praise than most this season, although he has also shown an adaptability many felt he lacked, moving from his preferred position as a No 10 to a new role on the right, where he has remained as effective.
“Van Gaal is how you see him in the press conferences, he’s like that with us too,” Mata says. “He’s honest and straightforward. If you do a bad thing he will scream at you, but if you do a good thing he will hug you and kiss you. He’s that kind of person, and he’s doing that kind of thing all the time on the training ground. He’s honest and he shows his feelings to everyone. He believes in his style of training and way of preparing for games. He’s won trophies everywhere he’s been, and hopefully this season now we know him better we’ll win something too.
“He was screaming at us at half-time at Arsenal, as he always says what he thinks. I really value his honesty. It’s important to be a good manager, but it’s even more important to be a good person. When someone does something in training that he really likes, he goes over to hug and kiss them — he really does it. Or he says in front everyone, ‘You are the best in training, I’m really proud of how you played,’ to set a good example to the others. He can be quite calm and sensible when he wants to be.”
For all the plaudits and his statistical satisfaction, Mata’s main objective is to win a trophy for the first time with United. His CV is full of the biggest prizes on offer — World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, Europa League — but he has never won a league title, which he believes is within United’s grasp this season.
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Van Gaal’s side are only two points behind Manchester City, the leaders, but having already lost away to Swansea City and Arsenal, Mata admits that their away form must improve if they are to mount a sustained challenge, starting with today’s trip to Everton.
“I’ve not won the title in Spain or England, just the cups, so the league is something that’s missing,” he says. “I’d love to win it for Manchester United. I spoke to David De Gea about it and he said when they won the league here, it was unbelievable how the city of Manchester celebrated. He said all fans and the whole town went out on parade. I’ve always known United as a club that fights for trophies and we have to take them back there.
“We need to be more consistent and tougher, particularly away from home. We need a tougher mentality and a tougher shape. If we’re winning at Swansea we need to protect the result by being compact, but we didn’t do that. We have to win more away games if we’re going to win the title.”
Few would begrudge him if he ends the season with a first championship winner’s medal.
•Juan Mata was speaking at a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation event in Madrid, where he spent time with disabled children as part of the Special Olympics Spain project.
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• Mata’s vital statistics
Most Premier League goals by midfielders since start of 2011-12
Yaya Touré 44
Frank Lampard 38
Eden Hazard 37
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Juan Mata 36
Steven Gerrard 36
Most chances created from open play in Premier League since 2011-12
David Silva 333
Hazard 277
Mata 236
•Spain’s culture vulture
Juan Mata became well known among footballers for his passion for art galleries and he has not abandoned his taste for culture since moving to Manchester, frequently posting pictures on Instagram of his favourite sights.
Although he lives in the Cheshire countryside, near the Manchester United training ground, he is frequently found in the city centre, regularly visiting the Whitworth Gallery, which has recently been named as the UK’s Museum of the Year 2015 after a refurbishment, as well as seeking out live music in the Northern Quarter. “I like Manchester a lot,” Mata says. “I have a different lifestyle to London as I don’t live in the city but I like to go into the city to visit bars, museums and art galleries. I like going to the Whitworth Gallery, which is very nice, and I like hanging out in the Northern Quarter.
“It reminds me of the east of London — like Shoreditch — as it’s young and creative, with lots of live music. I like going to see bands and unknown artists. I always get good banter from Manchester City fans and support from United.”