Manchester United ace Juan Mata out for the rest of the season, boss Jose Mourinho confirms
- Playmaker Juan Mata will not feature again this season for Manchester United
- Mata had hoped to return following an operation on his groin last month
- But manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed the Spaniard's season is now over
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Juan Mata is out for the rest of the season following groin surgery.
Although the Spaniard's operation took place last month, he had hoped to come back before the season ended.
But Mourinho says Mata, 28, who joined from Chelsea in January 2014, will not be fit until the end of May.
Juan Mata has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Manchester United have confirmed
The United manager also revealed that defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling will not return until mid-May, but could be back for the season's finale.
Speaking following United's mid-week Europa League clash with Belgian side Anderlecht, Mourinho gave the fateful news on the Spanish playmaker.
The Portuguese boss also spoke about the club's defensive situation, with depleted numbers due to injury leaving the Red Devils short at the back.
Manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed Mata will not be fit again until the end of May
Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo currently stand as United's first choice pairing, despite the duo being limited in their Premier League experience.
'There is nothing I can do [about the defensive situation],' Mourinho said.
'They [Bailly and Rojo] have to go until the limits. There is no other choice. We don't have any other central defenders. They have to go. There is no other chance.'
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