Mata's Positive Outlook Paying Off

Juan Mata's positive outlook usually stands him in good stead and his refusal to be too downbeat after the recent bad run of form was clear to see in his outstanding display against Leicester City last time out.

The Spaniard scored a beautiful strike and set up Marcus Rashford's effort during the 4-1 victory over the champions as the Reds followed up the EFL Cup win at Northampton Town with three important points in the Premier League.

Ahead of the Zorya Luhansk encounter, Mata spoke to United Review, the official matchday programme, and was asked if his calm approach, illustrated in his weekly blog, has proved beneficial throughout his career.

"Well, I think it is how I feel about the best way to deal with things, especially bad situations and bad results," he said. "What I try to stress in the blog is to be positive and wait for good things. I think they will come if you work well and if you are honest in your work and do everything for the team.

"As a group of people, we’re trying to do our best to bring happiness to the fans and I think these good things will come. That is what I try to spread, to cheer the fans up when they perhaps don’t want to read a blog or see anything when we lose. Obviously, they just want to see us winning games but there is a way I can do something, through that post and message, to try to tell them how I feel. Thank you for your support and sorry for the bad moments but we will be happy together very soon for sure, like we were last weekend."

The Europa League clash with Zorya represents another opportunity to put on an impressive display before Stoke City provide the opposition at the weekend. The Ukrainians are second in their league behind dominant force Shakhtar Donetsk and played well in drawing 1-1 with Fenerbahce in their Group A opener.

"We know they are going to be tough," added Mata. "I guess they will be a very physical side but we know we have to win as, when we are playing away in Ukraine, the conditions will be very difficult. We want to be first in the group and, after getting no points at Feyenoord, we need the victory."