It is clear to see which position both Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata prefer to function in. Just behind the main striker in the number ten role, with the freedom to distribute the ball to the flanks, supply Robin van Persie to finish or to shoot from in and around the penalty box.
Mata's Man of the Match performance against Newcastle United on Saturday 5th April proved to be the Spaniard's best outing in a United shirt, scoring two goals including a stunning curling free-kick. However, should Wayne Rooney have not been injured Mata would have undoubtedly been moved over to the right or left hand side of the formation.
Different playing style but not enough room on the pitch?
Seeing the ex Chelsea playmaker distributed to the wings has been a little ineffective for David Moyes side which leaves him with a problematic dilemma. With Rooney often regarded as a key player for the Red Devils and Mata costing the club a massive £37.5 million in the January transfer window, Moyes will be expected to play both players which has proven a little difficult to make a combination.
Rooney does have a tendency to operate over multiple blades of grass but inevitably returns to his primary role around the eighteen-yard area. With Rooney drifting around Mata tends to find himself moving inwards to fill in behind the striker which sees things turn a little sour when Rooney returns back to position to angle his next moving. This means that Mata becomes another obstacle for the Englishman to overcome which doesn’t make his route towards goal any easier.
As seen for Chelsea, Mata was awarded the club's player of the season for two consecutive seasons before Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge. Mata featured behind either Fernando Torres or Didier Drogba, assisting freely and popping up to score some vital goals. It was plain and clear to see that Mata was not a Mourinho favourite. The flamboyant and dramatic Portuguese coach simply took a liking to Brazilian trickster Oscar over the Spaniard, whilst the arrival of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian has begun to blend beautifully with his fellow countryman and Belgian star Eden Hazard. Mata had ultimately been replaced and surplus to requirements.
See Juan Mata's stunning free-kick against Newcastle United...
His arrival at Old Trafford was welcomed by the majority due to his work ethic and experience of winning the UEFA Champions League and on the international stage with Spain. However, £37.5 million seemed a little ludicrous and concerns over where he could play started to encounter debate. Mata does not posses the pace to play of the wing and always finds the need to infiltrate the middle of the park which causes a crowd. This isn't his fault, this is his playing style and Moyes has to learn how to accommodate him with both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in the same starting line-up.
With Rooney set to become club captain after Nemanja Vidic's departure in July to Inter Milan, the England forward will be first player on the list to play each and every game. The question is would have Manchester United thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 had Roomey not been injured? Mata will ultimately be shifted back out to the wing which could seriously damage his World Cup prospects this summer despite being talented enough to be included in Vicente Del Bosque's 23-man squad.
With expected arrivals at Old Trafford after Brazil with the champions likely to shake up the dressing room, Moyes will face his toughest challenge yet to find the right balance to overturn his team's fortunes in the 2014-15 season. Otherwise, the pressure may start to creep up even more on the former Everton boss even more so than seeing an airplane simmering over the ground with anti-Moyes messages.
What are your thoughts? Rooney? Mata? or Neither?
How would you play both Rooney and Mata? Who would you like to see your club buy to help strengthen the side and play alongside the duo?
