Why Jose Mourinho should give Juan Mata another chance

Every interaction between Juan Mata and Jose Mourinho is open to scrutiny. When the Spaniard was introduced as a substitute midway through Manchester United’s pre-season friendly at Wigan on Saturday social media peeled its eyes for any sign of venom between the pair. Again, when the two brushed past each other at full-time profound meaning was drawn from Mourinho’s patting of Mata’s head.

Those looking so closely for such signs only would’ve been satisfied had the new United boss tugged at Mata’s hair or punched him square in the Spaniard’s loveably fuzzy face. Instead they have to make do with reports that just as was the case at Chelsea, Mourinho is set to offload the playmaker this summer.

But perhaps the Portuguese coach should give Mata a chance to prove himself before selling him. The player pushed out the door at Stamford Bridge two and a half years ago is different to the one now at Manchester United. Mata has something to offer Mourinho and the United boss would be foolish to offload him before he can see precisely what that is.

After all, Mourinho will have to change as a coach at Old Trafford. He needs players who can help him do that. He needs players who are not of his usual mould. Players who can offer him something different, and that’s exactly what Mata can do. The Spaniard demonstrated that much in the pre-season win over Wigan Athletic.

Mata was instrumental in both United goals at the DW stadium, with the playmaker keen to catch the eye of the new manager. Henrikh Mkhitaryan started as the number 10, but it wasn’t until Mata was introduced that Mourinho’s side appeared to have boast any kind of cutting edge in the final third.

He is the kind of player who can pick a pass through a packed opposition backline, and United will come up against more than a few packed opposition backlines this season. Even if Mourinho doesn’t see Mata as a starter in his mooted 4-3-3 system, the Spaniard surely warrants a place in his squad. He brings something different.

Furthermore, Mata is now a much more adaptable player than he was under Mourinho at Chelsea. Louis Van Gaal took to using the Spaniard as an improvised right winger of sorts, demanding a high press from the front. It might not be his natural game, but if the new United boss wants his forwards to impose a pressing style Mata is still of some value. He is a more rounded player now.

We have been led to believe that the Mourinho that takes charge of United this season will be very different to the Mourinho that led Chelsea in two separate stints. This version of the Portuguese coach will be more flexible, more willing to adopt a fast and furious style of play as his own.

Mourinho will assemble a squad of more varied talents and qualities than he ever did at Chelsea, finding different horses for different courses. It’s for this reason that Mata could be extremely valuable at Old Trafford this season. He might not be a Mourinho-type player, but that doesn’t mean he cannot be used by Mourinho.

The narrative won’t allow for such nuances, though. Instead Mourinho will resume his personal grudge with Mata by selling the playmaker to the first person to flash a cheque under his nose. His motivation? Sheer spite. Pure antagonisation. Nothing but utter bitterness.

Of course, all tales of explosive fall-out between Mourinho and Mata is greatly exaggerated. It’s worth keeping in mind that when Mourinho supposedly banished the Spaniard while Chelsea boss he sold him to Man Utd in a £37.1 million deal, with the player flying north on a private helicopter. He didn’t exactly send him to the Gulag.

Mata might be somewhat dismayed by how there’s seemingly little he can do to change Mourinho’s mind, but there is no feud raging between the two. Their tussle is one of philosophy and ideology. The duo aren’t inherently compatible, yet at Manchester United their two contrasting personalities could cross. There is a cross-section where Mourinho and Mata could be of great use to each other. The new man in charge at Old Trafford should do his best to find it.