Manchester United favourite Juan Mata says he holds no ‘bitterness’ towards Jose Mourinho, insisting he is ‘happy’ with himself for fighting for his place when the former Chelsea manager took charge at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils signed the tricky Spaniard from Chelsea for a then club-record £37.1million in January 2014, after which Mourinho had made clear the midfielder was not part of his plans at Stamford Bridge.
Fast forward two years later and ‘The Special One’ was appointed United boss, putting Mata’s long-term future at the club in major doubt.
However, instead of attempting to seek a move away from United, Mata knuckled down and established himself as an important player under Mourinho during his two-year stint in Manchester.
“I have no personal bitterness towards him at all,” Mata told the Mail. “My football is not perfect for his idea of football. That’s what happens.
“I was at Chelsea, player of the year for two years, everything was rosy and then he arrived with a different approach, which I respect because there is not only one approach in football.
“So there was a football reason. I take it like it is. I went to United and after some time, he came to United, too.
“I feel content and happy with myself because again the easiest decision would have been to leave, knowing his approach and my qualities.”
Mata says he feels ‘content’ that he proved Mourinho wrong and enjoyed some successful times under the Portuguese boss at United, being named in his starting line-ups for the Carabao Cup and Europa League finals in 2017 – both of which they won.
He continued: “But I didn’t leave and despite what many people said and wrote, I played more than people expected. I felt like an important player, I played the two finals we played and I felt proud of myself for being strong and taking the challenge and not leaving.
“I might play more or less because of the way he plans football but I am going to be here and I am going to show everyone, most of all myself, that I can overcome things in football.
“And I did. I had good seasons with him and I feel content with that.”
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