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Personal Record

Mata reacts to getting the armband I felt really proud and very honoured. If you had told me a few years ago that I was going to be Man United captain, I would have not believed it because it is obviously something very special. I am very honoured to have felt that. I am grateful to (Louis van Gaal) and I told him because obviously we have so many injuries and the captains were not ready to play. Obviously I was ready and grateful to do it. I just tried to give confidence to everyone. Some of the players were playing for the first, second or third time, so I just tried to speak with them. It was great to give them confidence on the pitch.

Youngsters deserved more Four changes from midweek win against Watford and I can fully understand Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis demotions as neither were particularly brilliant. But it is a shame for Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Guillermo Varela. Can fully understand not wanting to burn out youngsters or pitch them into tough matches but both have proved they have the mettle. I thought they’d be given a bit longer runs. But it certainly puts pressure on the returns of Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian. If United struggle defensively today it will look a poor decision and won’t reflect well on those two.