Juan Mata believes Manchester United should take a leaf out of Arsenal’s book in their attempt to challenge for top honours and said he’s hopeful that the “future will be bright” under the new stewardship of new co-owner Sir. Jim Ratcliffe.
ESPN
Juan Mata has said Manchester United should take a leaf out of Arsenal‘s book in their attempt to challenge for top honours and added that the “future is bright” under the new stewardship of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
[…] To achieve that target, former United midfielder Mata, who made 285 appearances for the club in his eight years there, believes they should look to replicate Arsenal’s approach.
“We know the consistency that Man City is having over the years and for me, the sign of of a great club that is doing the right things on the pitch is one that if [they] don’t win, is second or third,” Mata told the ESPN FC show on ESPN+.
“So I think the club first needs to focus on getting closer, like Arsenal is doing. Of course Arsenal, a couple of years ago, was far away from winning and now they’re very close and I think United, hopefully with the new direction in the football side can do that.”
On Ratcliffe’s takeover, Mata said: “Sir Jim is going to make some decisions and hopefully they are going to be good ones and I think he is trying to bring United where we all think it should be, which is fighting for the biggest trophies — Champions League, Premier League — and hopefully he can do it with his team. So I think the future is bright.”
Mata expressed disappointment at United’s form in the league this season but said the chance to win the FA Cup, where Erik ten Hag’s side will face City in the final, could be the saving grace in their campaign.