Mata Relishes Attacking Link-up

Juan Mata says he has been working hard on building an understanding with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, insisting top players are capable of playing alongside anyone.

The trio lined up together for the first time for last weekend's trip to Stoke with Mata and van Persie combining for United's goal in the 2-1 defeat.

The Spain international says he already feels settled at United and is relishing the chance to play alongside players of the calibre of Rooney and van Persie, as well as the burgeoning talent of Adnan Januzaj.

"We have been working on things in training to try to link better and understand each other better," Mata told MUTV. "But when you talk about players like them, they are top players so it's easy to play with them.

"The three you mentioned – Robin, Wayne and Adnan – are all great players and it's a pleasure to play alongside them.

"I want to do my best to help the team. I think my main position on the pitch is to assist and to try to provide opportunities to the strikers. But if I can score then that is even better.

"It's true that in my career I have always scored a good amount of goals as a midfielder. And I will try to score as many goals as I can because it is the best feeling in the world."

Mata revealed he has already got to know the city of Manchester well and with the help of team-mate and friend David De Gea has found a house. The 25-year-old is very grateful for De Gea's support as well as that of everyone at the club, especially the fans.

"The welcome I've had from the lads, from the club, from the manager and the fans from the first day since I came here has been amazing," he added. "I will never forget my debut at Old Trafford – seeing the fans in the warm-up wearing my shirt, it was fantastic. Hopefully we can win as many games until the end of the season for them because they deserve that from us.

"David was very important for me coming here," continued Juan. "The first week he was with me, almost all the time he was calling me to check I was okay and asking what I needed. I have known him since we were kids and I'm very happy to be here with him."