3) Mata can shine after Di Maria exit
Although disappointing, the exit of Angel Di Maria this summer could allow Juan Mata to truly shine in this United side, as he did in this game. The Spanish playmaker is now the team’s main creator and he’s good enough to have everything flow through him. With a glorious pass to set up Januzaj’s winner, Mata was instrumental in this win and can continue to improve if used regularly and without a similar style of player trying to do the same thing. Too many playmakers can get in each other’s way, as we’ve seen at other top clubs, and Di Maria wasn’t offering enough to justify occasionally stifling Mata.