There is still life left in Juan Mata's Manchester United career
By Mitch Wilks
Despite now boasting an attacking roster that is stronger and more finely tuned than it has been for years, there is still an underlying struggle when Manchester United attempt to play their way through a stubborn defence.
No matter what minute of the game the inevitable bit of magic from Bruno Fernandes will occur, the Red Devils are still making hard work of it in games where sides sit back and force them to hold the ball in the final third for extended periods.
By no means are things as bad as they used to be; think back to the days of Marouane Fellaini-ball under Jose Mourinho, the endless sideways passing under Louis van Gaal and, well, whatever it was that David Moyes even tried to do. That thrust still isn't there regularly enough, however, and it is these little pitfalls that are stopping United from making more progress and pushing on for silverware.
Sometimes they just lack a player who adds that special touch. A flick in behind the defender, a run off someone's shoulder to create a space, or a little one-two on the edge of the box to change the tempo. In normal circumstances that is something Fernandes can provide, but the fatigue is visibly setting in. So, perhaps Juan Mata could still offer it despite being the forgotten man.
Mata has found opportunities harder to come by for United in recent times, particularly since the arrival of Fernandes and more so now that Donny van de Beek is also at the club. He's been limited to just ten appearances so far this season, but is available to return against Real Sociedad in the Europa League round of 32 - and he absolutely should.
Now 32, it feels like the Spaniard's best days are truthfully beyond him. Gone are the days where you could easily expect a 50-game season from him and let his endless book of tricks do the talking, but that doesn't make him entirely redundant. While a player can lose their pace and physicality, it is rare that such an immense footballing IQ will vanish with it; something still lacking across the board at Old Trafford.
In games like the 1-1 draw away to West Brom, the defeat to Sheffield United at Old Trafford, and even January's goalless draw to Arsenal, there was room for Mata to be the undoing of the Red Devils' sticking point. As an impact sub, giving the Spaniard 30 minutes or even less could be long enough for him to negotiate a space in between defensive lines, pick up the ball on the flank and feed someone through, or even sneakily arrive late in the box for a goal - a hugely underrated element to his game.
In his ten appearances this season, Mata has racked up five contributions in the form of two goals and three assists. Having a football brain like his to throw into the rotation is an asset that any top team would be fortunate to have, especially considering his professionalism and contentedness with being used in a lesser role these days.
No matter his age and sadly deteriorating ability to continually influence games week in week out, there are few players in the ranks of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad who can weave through stubborn defences and tight, one-v-one situations quite like Mata so effortlessly can. And with European competition returning, the workload is only increasing, meaning people like him are going to prove a vital option.
Perhaps the fact that Mata's contract is up in the summer doesn't help his situation; there is plenty of evidence to argue that handing him a new deal would feel like something of a step backwards in the short-term. Experience is vital, however, and with Solskjaer building a youthful squad, having a consummate professional like Mata on the training ground is invaluable to younger heads in the side, similarly to how Edinson Cavani is viewed.
This isn't us saying that it's time for United to hand Mata the five-year deal that should be going to an exciting summer acquisition, but there are plenty of people in the squad who should be out of the door before Mata, and nailing him down for another 12 months would do United no harm.