Juan Mata and David De Gea stroll through Manchester Airport.

Mata: Dubai trip will strengthen the group

Monday 08 January 2018 16:25

Hi everyone. Today I’m writing to you after packing my bag for Dubai, where we will spend a few different days of training.

We’re taking a short break after the intense Christmas period and it’s going to be good for the team. We have played nine games in December and two more at the beginning of 2018, and now we have a whole week with no fixtures on the schedule until next Monday. 

It’s kind of weird, after a long time with games every three or four days, and it comes in good timing for the whole team to spend time together and work in that area of the world with such a good climate, especially in a month like January.
This five-day training camp is going to be very positive for us to recharge the batteries, in order to get ready for the five thrilling months of the competition that lie ahead. Besides, I think spending time with the team-mates apart from the usual daily training can be very good. 

We will have time to train, chat, to strengthen the group. It’s like a break in the routine of the day-to-day activity and that is always positive. I hope we come back full of energy for the game against Stoke at Old Trafford.
The benefits of Dubai
Juan Mata says

"We will have time to train, chat, to strengthen the group. It’s like a break in the routine of the day-to-day activity and that is always positive. I hope we come back full of energy."

We have started 2018 with two consecutive wins by 2-0, so we feel very optimistic for the following games. Starting the year with a victory at Goodison Park was very important to confirm that, despite the amount of games that we have played, the team is ambitious and we are capable of beating every opponent. 

A few days later, the win against Derby County gave us a place in the next round of the FA Cup. As I always say, this competition is particularly nice. There’s something special about it.

Hugs, Juan