Juan Mata Targets Repeat of Last Season's Heroics Against Liverpool
Juan Mata had struck twice when Manchester United won 2-1 during their visit to Anfield last season. The 27-year-old said that United fans still recall that match when he walks down the streets of Manchester and is hoping to gift them another performance to cherish when the Reds make their first visit to Old Trafford this season.
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata is aiming to repeat his last season's heroics when the former champions host bitter rivals Liverpool in a high voltage English Premier League (EPL) clash here on Saturday.
Mata had struck twice when United won 2-1 during their visit to Anfield last season. The 27-year-old said that United fans still recall that match when he walks down the streets of Manchester and is hoping to gift them another performance to cherish when the Reds make their first visit to Old Trafford this season.
"People I meet in the street always remember that game and it's something that will always be there for me. That is a very nice feeling," Mata was quoted as saying by the British media on Friday.
"The week after it, every day at the training ground everyone came up to me and congratulated me and you could feel that for all the staff at United and for every supporter around the world, that game was something special."
The Spanish World Cup winner also asserted that the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool is one of the greatest derbies in the world.
"You cannot know it if you don't live it from the inside.
"I knew when I came to England that United-Liverpool was one of the biggest games, but when you are inside it and part of it, you realise it is the biggest," Mata remarked.
"The history of both clubs, the rivalry... you can feel it from the start of the week before the game, it's unbelievable."