Manchester United forward Juan Mata can feel momentum building at Old Trafford and is hopeful the side’s winning run can continue throughout a busy December.
Mata got on the scoresheet as United continued their recent revival after an indifferent start to the campaign, and in spite of a
lengthy injury list, by overcoming Stoke 2-1 on Tuesday.
The victory was United’s fourth in succession in the Premier League and maintained their position in the top four.
The second win in that sequence was a hard-fought 2-0 success at Arsenal and Mata feels things have started to build from there.
“It was very important to win at Arsenal and then to get two wins in a row at home,” said Mata, also looking back to Saturday’s convincing 3-0 defeat of Hull.
“Now we have the chance to have a great December – probably the most important month in the league because we play more
(games).”
The Stoke clash was actually United’s first home night game of the season, a notable fixture quirk that also highlights their lack of European football this term.
The gap between fixtures shrinks now, though, with six more games to be played up to and including New Year’s Day.
United will be tested at third-placed Southampton next Monday and then by Liverpool the following weekend, but Mata believes
the team spirit, much maligned last season, is now starting to shine through.
The 26 year old Spaniard continued: “The spirit is there. We have not been lucky with injuries, we’ve had important players that could not play, but the spirit is there.
“Everyone was very happy in the dressing room after the game because it was a difficult game and we showed character.”
“It was very tough and we were, until the last minute, suffering. They played good in their way. They came here as a very
compact team and they play good counter-attacks.
At the end, it’s a very important win, a fourth win in a row and we are getting closer.”
Stoke goalscorer Steven N’Zonzi admitted they were scratching their heads as to how they didn’t claim a point in a breathless finish.
He said: “We had some good chances a the end of the game. I don’t know how we didn’t score. It’s crazy.”
