Juan Mata Has a Decision to Make About His Future at Manchester United

As Juan Mata wheeled away into the corner of Old Trafford to celebrate his goal against Crystal Palace, his usual beaming smile was gone.

If anything it was a scowl, pointing to the name on the back of his shirt as if to say "remember me?" 

It's hard to imagine a player of Mata's ability could ever be forgotten. He's a World Cup and European Championship winner. He's won the Champion League and Chelsea's Player of the Year award twice. But it's not been enough to guarantee him a regular place in the Manchester United team. Not since Louis van Gaal took over, anyway.

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Mata's reaction to scoring the winner against Palace was that of a frustrated man. He's only started four of United's eight games since transfer deadline day. It might have been even fewer had Wayne Rooney not been suspended.

Rooney's suspension was a chance for Mata to prove he should be in the team every week. But such were the Spaniard's performances in games against Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea, there was little surprise when the captain was quickly returned to the team for the Manchester derby.

Mata is facing an uphill battle to cement a place in Van Gaal's best XI. He's not the Dutchman's signing, but a player he inherited from David Moyes. After the additions of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao this summer, there are lots of players at Old Trafford who play in the same positions.

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Van Gaal is still short of a centre-back and a central midfielder. But Mata, Di Maria, Falcao, Rooney, Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj are all fighting for, at most, four places. That means two will always miss out. Two very good players sat on the bench each week when they could, quite easily, walk into most other teams in Europe. 

In any other season, it wouldn't be a problem. But with no Champions League football, there are not enough games to keep everyone happy.

Mata's celebration against Palace hinted that he's already worked out his opportunities at Old Trafford might be limited. It was an angry reaction to what should have been a happy moment.

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The ball, though, is in his court. Van Gaal will want to keep a player who still figures heavily in his match day squads. It's a luxury to be able to bring a player of his quality off the bench when things aren't going right. One Van Gaal shouldn't want to give up in a hurry.

But at 26 years old, Mata might feel he needs to be playing regular football. He's already lost his place in the Spain squad, and with Cesc Fabregas, Isco, Koke, David Silva, Andres Iniesta and Santi Cazorla for competition, he's not going to win it back by sitting on the bench.

The January window is the next opportunity for Mata to leave United if he feels the time is right. Ultimately, the decision lies with him. To stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, or move on in search of a starring role elsewhere.