Jose Mourinho looks set to make a sensational U-turn and keep both Daley Blind and Juan Mata at Manchester United this season.
It was thought that both Blind and Mata would not be part of the Portuguese plans for the coming season and that both players future lay away from Old Trafford.
However according to the latest reports, Mourinho has gone back his original word and has instead decided that the pair will remain at the Theatre of Dreams.
Juan Mata’s future at the club has been under some scrutiny ever since the name Jose Mourinho was even linked with the Old Trafford hot seat, after the Portuguese sold Mata to Manchester United back in 2014 after haven reportedly fell out with the Spaniard due to his poor work rate. The pair’s relationship with one another made it seem almost untenable that both Mata and Mourinho could work alongside each other this term. However it seems a truce has been made.
Whilst for Daley Blind, it was originally thought that the Dutchman would not be part of Mourinho’s squad ahead of the new campaign and that a move away from Old Trafford seemed the most likely outcome for the 26-year-old. However it seems the new united head coach has had a change of thought and that now Blind will feature in his plans for the season ahead.
News of Mourinho’s U-turn is astonishing given the Portuguese track record. Once a decision has been made by the Portuguese he sticks to that decision. There are no hesitations about it and if he doesn’t think you are good enough then that’s it, you are out of the door, as Bastian Schweinsteiger has found out all too well.
Both Daley Blind and Juan Mata aren’t necessarily going to be first team regulars in Jose Mourinho’s starting eleven, but they will no doubt play an important role as the season progresses. Blind has already shown his versatility under former head coach Louis Van Gaal that he can play at centre-back, both full-back positions and in centre midfield, whist equally for Juan Mata he has too shown his versatility at been able to play on the flanks if needed, despite his favoured position been at number ten.
