Jose Mourinho praised the growing influence of Juan Mata following Manchester United’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The former Chelsea star, who moved to Old Trafford after Mourinho sanctioned his sale during his second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, scored the opening goal against relegation-threatened Palace, as United scored four goals in a game for the sixth time this season.
Mata has been in and out of United’s starting XI and been asked to perform in various positions since Mourinho’s arrival, but the Special One believes he is one of a number of unsung heroes in his current squad.
‘I need good players, I need good people,’ Mourinho said of Mata.
‘I need some people with maturity, I need some people with the concept of team, I know that the new generations are more individual because this is the way the entourage and society makes them.
‘So to have people like Mata, Herrera, Valencia, Matic, to have people like them – and I am just giving a few examples, I could give more – is very important because managers, we don’t have an easy life now.’
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