Spain international Juan Mata encountered some tricky spells during his time at Manchester United and has opened up about the club's more recent challenges under Ruben Amorim
Juan Mata during his time at Manchester United
Juan Mata has reflected on his time at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United star Juan Mata has recognised the challenges faced by the club when it comes to getting out of a tough spell. The Spaniard was United's record signing when he joined from Chelsea in January 2014 but the club struggled to turn big spending into big results.
Now 37, Mata is playing his club football in Australia. He has seen United head coach Ruben Amorim and his predecessors struggle with momentum while watching from afar and believes it's nothing new.
"Momentum is key for any club in football, but especially for a club with the size and expectations of Manchester United," Mata told ESPN. "When you get into a momentum of bad results -- and I suffered it with the club, also -- it feels like it's very difficult to get out from there.
"But if you get a momentum like this now, hopefully they can build from it and not think about the bad results that they had in the beginning. Momentum is key, and hopefully, this is a moment in the season where they really change and look up and not down anymore.
"Results have been better with three wins, one draw, and no losses. Hopefully, that can create a sense of momentum within the dressing room; with the confidence of the players and also with the connection with the fans."
After a slow start to the 2025/26 season, with just seven points from six matches, United have found some form. They have 10 points across their last four outings, winning three in a row before drawing at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Casemiro headed Amorim's team into a half-time lead, but goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona turned the game on its head before Amad's late volley rescued a point. United missed a chance to strengthen their hopes of Champions League qualification but still sit just one point outside the top four.
Manchester United players after their draw with Nottingham Forest
Manchester United players after their draw with Nottingham Forest
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Amorim was pleased with the way his team recovered to going behind, even though they weren't able to win. "Comparing [to] the recent past we had, some games [in] these big bad moments we struggle so much more than today, we managed to control the emotions, to put the ball on the ground and try to push the opponent to the final third," the Portuguese boss said.
"We managed to score, we had a big opportunity in the end. But we lost two points and that is the feeling, but we have the next week to work and to try and get these points in another stadium."
He added: "The big teams, sometimes when you have a bad moment, you know how to respond. When you cannot win, you cannot lose. I had that feeling today in the team, that we are not going to lose this game, and that is a good feeling."
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