When 73,00 fans streamed back into the streets around Old Trafford after Manchester United beat Brentford 3-0 last month, they were all thinking the same thing. They were all left wondering where that level of performance had been all season.
That match was United's final game of the campaign at Old Trafford and it was their strongest display at home since their 5-1 opening day mauling of Leeds. United started and ended the season in style at Old Trafford — it's just a shame that everything in between was disastrous and a stain on the club's history. The train wreck of a season couldn't have ended quick enough for supporters.
However, the fans that were at Old Trafford for United's comfortable win over Brentford were also discussing the performance of a particular player. Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane scored the goals, but it was someone else on supporters' minds that night. It was actually Juan Mata who was the centre of discussions after delivering a wonderful performance.
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Ralf Rangnick's decision to start Mata seemed illogical at first. The 34-year-old was out of contract in the summer and providing him with a start over some of the club's academy talent was unadvisable, but Mata didn't need long to prove that wrong.
Mata started playing at No.10, which was a surprise considering Fernandes was also in the starting line up. Fernandes started on the left side of the 4-2-3-1 and that provided Mata with a rare opportunity to be a No.10 — the position in which he made his name.
The decision from Rangnick to start Mata also seemed sentimental. It was the worst kept secret in football that it was set to be the midfielder's final appearance at Old Trafford and Mata now had the opportunity to write the most perfect swansong.
It was a chance that he didn't waste. Mata wrote it with such brilliance, sending a reminder of his talent. It was a masterful performance from the Spaniard; he effortlessly orchestrated play and drifted around the pitch. His connection with Ronaldo was also evident from the first whistle, despite that being the first time in both players' careers that they'd actually started together.
United fans understandably wanted Rangnick to start the club's youngsters that night, but the result was a resounding victory for the old guard. Ronaldo and Mata were just unplayable. Both players stayed levels ahead of Brentford throughout with their quality and class, which more than compensated for their lack of pace. There was an elegance about both players' performances.
Ronaldo and Mata were playing chess and Brentford's players were playing checkers and yet El Mago's magical display was bittersweet. It was a trademark performance at No.10 from Mata, but he hadn't been played in that position during his United career. It felt like United had just wasted eight years that night. They had let Mata down by playing him away from his best, natural position.
Mata waved goodbye to supporters after the game and that was indeed his final bow at Old Trafford. United officially confirmed on Thursday morning that Mata would leave the club this summer upon the expiration of his contract.
David Moyes started Mata on the right side on his United debut in 2014 against Cardiff and he was sparingly used at No.10 at the club ever since. He spent eight years playing out of his position and his performance against Brentford was a reminder of that.
The supporters that trickled back through Old Trafford's turnstiles after United's win over Brentford all agreed it just seemed like Mata's time at the club had been an awful waste. The only silver lining is that United will learn from it, surely.
Erik ten Hag's reign has started and he can't make the same mistake with any new signing, like with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, for example. De Jong is a world-class ball player, he shouldn't be pigeonholed into something else for the 'good of the team'.
It's counterproductive and players should always be played in their best positions. Although that might seem obvious, it clearly wasn't with Mata.
Gracias y adios, Juan.
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