Juan Mata chips United into round four of the FA Cup

Mata won't get carried away by Cup victory

Wednesday 15 January 2020 23:27

Juan Mata says he will reserve a few moments to dream about going all the way to the Emirates FA Cup final, but his focus now shifts to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Reds will play our sixth game of the new year already on Merseyside, but Mata’s matchwinning goal against Wolves in the 1-0 FA Cup third round replay has given him chance to contemplate a return to a happy hunting ground.

The Spaniard won the FA Cup in 2016 with United and also in 2012 with Chelsea, and he’s not lost the taste for the famous stadium or the trophy.

“We take the FA Cup very seriously because it is a very special competition and for me personally I really like it,” Juan told MUTV.

“Hopefully we can keep going in this competition and I hope we can play at Wembley again.”

United won’t find out their fourth round opponents until 23 January, when Tranmere Rovers play Watford in a game which has been rearranged after Tuesday's postponement. 

Mata and Ole celebrate getting into the fourth round of the FA Cup

Our away tie, at either Prenton Park or Vicarage Road, will be played three days later, but Mata isn't contemplating that one just yet.

“We won’t know until three or four days before who we play but we are not thinking about that now. We are just thinking about the next game and try to continue this run of football and good results,” said Mata.

“The way football is nowadays there is no time to dwell if you lose or be overly happy if you win. We will now prepare 100 per cent for Liverpool. We are already thinking about a very special game at the weekend.”

Mata was delighted with the Reds win against Wolves, our first in six games against Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

“Finally we win against them. They are a difficult team. They are very well coached and play in a certain way,” he said.

“Any team has difficulties to beat them. But we win 1-0, we are through and we are very pleased.”

The Spaniard scored his first domestic goal of the campaign in the second half to settle the replay but admitted it was a late decision to coolly dink the ball home over Wolves keeper John Ruddy.

“I got the ball and had a lot of space in front of me so I tried to run as quick as I could,” he said.

“It is not always good when you have a lot of time to think. I had a few things in my head on how to finish and finally when the goalkeeper was very close to me I thought about chipping it. Luckily it went in.”

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