Juan Mata has been used sporadically by Ole Gunnar Solskjær since the Norwegian took over from José Mourinho almost two years ago but has remained a key figure in the dressing room.
The veteran, who is still going strong in his 8th season at Manchester United, has enjoyed some spells of good form under his new manager but has never really challenged for a permanent spot in the team.
The teams development since the introduction of Bruno Fernandes is there for everyone to see and Juan Mata has praised the ‘hungry’ midfielder ahead of tomorrows Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain.
“Yes, some players take a long time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League but that was not the case with Bruno, who immediately proved how great a player he is,” Mata told L’Equipe, via Sport Witness.
“He is hungry for victories and only thinks of improving. On the pitch, he and I get along very well, we have an instinctive mutual understanding of our passes, our movements.
“It is a pleasure to work alongside him. Truth be told, we are all very happy that Bruno is here, considering his impact on the team. Hopefully he continues like this.”
The 32-year-old also praised Marcus Rashford, who was recognized as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in October for his efforts in combatting child food poverty.
“I am so proud of Marcus, as a teammate and friend, that he was able to help so many hungry English kids. This is a situation he experienced as a child, so he knows what he is talking about,” he said.
“He is so impressive. Let’s not forget that he is only 23 years old. From his first practice with the group, I felt he was a good guy, humble, with a great mindset and a lot of heart.
“It’s great to see Premier League players like him, Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) or Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) put their fame to good use to help others, and make sure that we live in a society a little more fair.”
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