Juan Mata underlines his goalscoring ability a few hours before the clash against PSG, which will bring the curtain down on the US tour. “I feel very comfortable playing on the right”, he stresses.
“I always try to score more than ten goals in a season. I think that it is a good number for a midfielder”, declares Juan Mata, who is prepared for the final match of the International Champions Cup, against PSG in Chicago (Wednesday at 20.05 local time). Manchester United will look to continue their immaculate pre-season run in the fixture.
Juan’s goalscoring side will provide key support in the next few months for Wayne Rooney, who will once again spearhead the atrack after a few seasons away from the area. “I used to put myself up front when I was a kid. In all of the teams I’ve been in I’ve had good records. I scored 21 times in one season (2012-13, with Chelsea and the national team) and in another year I scored 14 with Valencia (2009-10). I will try to help the team with assists and goals once again this season”, comments Juan, the scorer of 10 goals last season (the most scored by any United midfielder since the 2004-05 campaign).
Regarding his role in Van Gaal’s system (on the right flank), Mata speaks with clarity: “I have played on the right, as a No.10 and on the left. Now I am very comfortable playing on the right. Antonio (Valencia) or Matteo (Darmian) support me, and I try to link up with the ’10’ and the striker”.
Until now, the three matches of the US tour have ended in victory. The most recent one, on Saturday against FC Barcelona. Laurent Blanc’s PSG will provide another very interesting challenge to test the state of the team a few days before the start of the official competition (August 8 against Tottenham at Old Trafford).
