Showing remarkable optimism – in fact more optimism than the majority of Reds would indulge in at this stage – Juan Mata has insisted that he believes more big names will arrive at Old Trafford as David Moyes seeks to rebuild his side after a dismal first season with the champions.
The United manager signed Marouane Fellaini on deadline day last summer, only for the Belgian to prove a large disappointment so far, having looked off the pace and sluggish in the few games he played before being sidelined by a series of different injuries that have limited his opportunities.
Mata arrived from Chelsea during the January transfer window, but after the initial excitement generated by a new club-record signing arriving at Old Trafford, it has quickly become apparent that Moyes seems unsure as where the Spaniard is at his most effective and so far the United fans have only caught brief glimpses of the former Chelsea man’s talent.
With United set to miss out on Champions League football for the first time in 19 years and with a spot in the Europa League looking increasingly likely to slip through their fingers, next summer’s transfer window is likely to go a long way in shaping United’s future and despite Moyes’ defiance, doubts have been growing over whether the United manager will be able to secure world class players.
Mata, however, remains confident that the club will welcome quality arrivals in the summer.
“I don’t know what will happen in the summer but the manager said the other day at a press conference that he’s going to be signing players,” he said in an interview with Canal Plus.
“I think this club is at a stage of change, but I can tell you that the best players in the world will always arrive.”
United currently sit in seventh place, 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool but Mata believes United can still qualify for the Champions League.
“The objective is to get to the Champions League spots,” said the Spaniard.
“It’s difficult because Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton are playing well and fighting for the top four, but I think we have a team who can do it.
“This is Manchester United. When this club wins two, three or four matches in a row, it has a very important mental strength, a winner’s mentality. We are coming and I think we can do it, but we have to win a lot of games first.
“This is a club that should always be fighting for the Premier League. I think, in the last 20 or 21 years, they’ve won 13 times.
“The mentality of this club is to win and fight for all the trophies. Unfortunately this year, things haven’t gone so well in the league, but I believe there is still time this season.”
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