Juan Mata has passionately thanked Manchester United fans as he makes the eighth season since joining the Premier League.
Mata started in the match against Leicester City and he fondly talks of the fantastic support United fans give to their players. The atmosphere at Old Trafford and other stadia in England makes it a perfect experience for any footballer according to the Spaniard.
“The Premier League started on Friday. Looking back, this is now my eighth season in England. It’s the league that I’ve played in the most and I want to give my thanks to the clubs, as well as the division itself, and especially to you guys, the fans. I enjoy playing in the Premier League a lot. I like the style of play, I like the organization and above all, I like the atmosphere in the stadiums. I will never get tired of saying it, the support that a player gets here is fantastic, and honestly, you have to be thankful for being able to experience something amazing like this in your career. At the end of the day, football without you all, and without the passion that it brings, it wouldn’t be the sport that we know and love today.” Mata wrote in his weekly blog.
An increase in Spaniards plying trade in the Premier League is another factor that makes him happier. He credits the style of football played in EPL to the ever increasing number of foreigners joining.
“This year, there’s a group of over 30 Spaniards playing in the Premier League, which is a great number to have. It makes it clear that we’re valued here, and this is a great competition in which to develop our game. When I arrived, there weren’t as many, it’s a good sign that many of us have spent so long here, and that plenty of others have been encouraged to try this league. It is an enriching experience to leave your own country to get to know another style of football, and trying the Premier League out is something that I would totally recommend.” adds the midfielder.
“I sign off from this first blog post of the season grateful for all of your support, as always! Best wishes to you all, and hopefully, it will be a campaign filled with happiness!” Mata hopes.
David Moyes brought Mata to Old Trafford after he fell out with Jose Mourinho in his second stint at Stamford Bridge. They have, however, got well since they linked up together again at United.
A graduate of Real Madrid’s youth academy, Mata played for Real Madrid Castilla in 2006–07, before joining Valencia in the summer of 2007. He became an integral part of the club’s midfield, making 174 appearances over the course of four seasons. In August 2011, Mata signed for English club Chelsea of the Premier League for a fee believed to be in the region of €28 million, and in his debut season was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup. The following year, Chelsea won the UEFA Europa League, making Mata and teammate Fernando Torres the first players to hold the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, and the European Championships simultaneously. After falling out of favour at Chelsea under José Mourinho, Mata was sold to Manchester United in January 2014, for a fee of £37.1 million.
Mata is a Spanish international, having represented Spain at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20, under-21, Olympic and senior levels. He played for the under-20 side in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In June 2009, Mata played at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, his first senior tournament. On 9 September 2009, Mata scored his first goal for the senior team, against Estonia, securing the nation a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and was part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad. In 2011, he went back to playing in the under-21 side, helping Spain win the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in Denmark. He won the Golden Player award and was part of the Team of the Tournament. Mata returned to the senior squad for UEFA Euro 2012 and, after coming on as a substitute, scored Spain’s fourth goal in the final as Spain defeated Italy 4–0 to retain their title as champions of Europe.