Louis van Gaal Talks Juan Mata, Manchester United Schedule After Watford Win

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted he was about to withdraw Juan Mata from the action against Watford on Wednesday evening just before the Spaniard’s sweetly struck free-kick gave the Red Devils a 1-0 win.

For large parts of the contest, United were outplayed by the diligent visitors, having to rely on goalkeeper David De Gea to bail them out a few times. Mata’s influence was also minimal before his moment of genius, and his boss was about to mix things up from the bench with the midfielder hobbling.

"Yes, that was true, because he was limping at that time," said Van Gaal when asked whether he was considering taking the former Chelsea man off, per David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror. "But we were in a better moment, so I didn’t want to change any more. I had changed the shape, put Anthony Martial in the striker’s position and we were in a better shape."

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It was a victory the Red Devils had to work hard for, and given Mata’s winner came in the 83rd minute, for long spells, it looked unlikely to come.

As Alex Shaw of ESPN FC noted, as the team’s senior player on the night, the Spaniard stepped up when it mattered:

It’s four wins in succession in all competitions for a previously under-pressure Van Gaal, with the toxic mood that engulfed Old Trafford seemingly lifted. And with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City all losing on Wednesday night, the Red Devils are in the hunt for a top-four spot again.

However, with FA Cup and Europa League clashes to negotiate, Van Gaal isn’t getting too carried away when it comes to his side’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League via the Premier League, per Simon Peach of the Press Association (h/t MailOnline):

"

I don't think that's bad and we are in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, I think that's not bad, and in last 16 of the Europa League, so that's not bad [either]. But it also means it's a full programme. When you see our matches, still 20 to go, we have already 40 matches played. It is 60 matches.

When I was trainer-coach of Bayern Munich, we played 55 matches and we played then the final of the Champions League. Then still we have to look for two matches, Crystal Palace and West Ham United, so it's very difficult to fulfil the expectation.

"

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They’re tough matches, too. In the Europa League last-16 clashes on the horizon, the Red Devils will take on bitter rivals Liverpool. The FA Cup will see United host an in-form West Ham United—at just one point behind United in fifth and City in fourth, the Hammers will have eyes on a spot in the top four themselves.

Still, with United’s season seemingly teetering on the brink of oblivion in mid-February after losses to Sunderland in the Premier League and FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, the Old Trafford crowd at least has a lot to look forward to during the run-in.

Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette is still lamenting what could have been, though, with the Premier League title race wide open:

You sense that while United are benefiting from a major swell of momentum, the foundations of this side are precarious. If Van Gaal were to steer this team to an unexpected defeat, the criticism that has been shelved in recent matches would be dragged up once again, and his position would come under scrutiny.

But the Dutchman does deserve credit for putting together this mini-revival. United seemed trapped in a malaise after the aforementioned losses, with anything prosperous emerging from this season looking extremely unlikely. So a potential push for two trophies and Champions League football next term will come as a significant bonus to the Old Trafford outfit.