Man Utd star Juan Mata reveals all about why Moyes had to be sacked, ‘scary’ Van Gaal and his Mourinho reunion – The Sun
JUAN MATA has revealed all about the four managers he has worked under during his time at Old Trafford.
The Spaniard signed for Manchester United in January 2014 but three months later the manager who brought him in was sacked.
However, he admits David Moyes needed to be dismissed because results simply were not good enough.
Speaking to the club's UTD Podcast, he open up on what life was like under "scary" but "sensible" Louis van Gaal, who won the FA Cup but was immediately axed.
Jose Mourinho followed Van Gaal for two-and-a-half years before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came in.
Here's what Mata had to say on his four United bosses…
DAVID MOYES (2014)
Mata signed from Chelsea for a club-record £37million but only worked with Moyes for three brief months at the end of the Scot's in-fated spell as the Chosen One with the impossible task of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson.
But it was the final day of the season – under caretaker boss Ryan Giggs – that sticks with the midfielder the most due to the United fans' loyal supporter despite a poor season results-wise.
Mata said: “I always feel bad when a manager has to go, because it means that you are not doing right, or you are not getting results. So it's not a nice feeling. So unfortunately he had to go. But of course, I'm very thankful to him.
“What I remember the most about that season was in the last game. Ryan Giggs was our caretaker manager at that time, and we always do the ‘lap of honour’. You say 'thank you' and 'goodbye and see you next season'.
“I was very afraid of that, because we were seventh in the league, a position Manchester United should never be, so I was like: we're going to wave and they're going to boo us back, they're going to insult and they're going to be like they should feel, because I understand that.
"I came from Spain and I know how things can turn difficult when the team is not performing.
“I didn't want to look to the people just in case, and I was embarrassed. But half-way, I realised that they were clapping, they were singing, they were encouraging us, saying it doesn't matter, next season, next season. I was just like: this is incredible.
“Honestly, it was unbelievable to have such fans behind you. You're seventh in the league with Manchester United, having been winners the year before with Sir Alex Ferguson.
"And they don't lose their patience and they say, 'Keep going, it doesn't matter'. It got me a bit emotional, because I didn't expect it.”
LOUIS VAN GAAL (2014-2016)
After Moyes' miserable year at the helm, United turned to the eccentric figure of Van Gaal, who had just guided Holland to the World Cup semi-finals.
The Dutchman was keen to get the best out of his playmaker and revolve the team around him so the ex-Valencia man was disappointed when he was sent packing just days after Wembley glory.
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