Juan Mata has called on his Manchester United teammates to return to winning ways in the EFL third round fixture at Northampton Town on Wednesday.
Manchester United suffered three straight defeats in all competitions during the past week and Mata wants to bounce back with a win against the League One side.
“As I always say, one of the best things of football is that the game is testing you all the time,” Mata wrote in his personal blog.
“A win doesn’t last too long, and it happens the same way with a defeat: you have the chance to make it up soon afterwards.
“Two more games this week will give us the opportunity to show on the pitch our pride and skills. There’s no time for mourning. We must react.
“First of all, we visit Northampton Town in the EFL Cup, in our first game of the season in this competition.
“We are the favourites in this game and we have to deliver, all due respect to the opponent because, despite being in League One, Northampton Town has already knocked out a Premier League side like West Brom.
“I’m sure the stadium will be packed and they will try to make things difficult for us.”
United started the season with fourth straight wins in all competitions, but the following three defeats have wounded the team’s pride and confidence.
The Red Devils are already 6 points behind Manchester City, but they must concentrate on the EFL Cup before switching their attention towards the Premier League game against Leicester City next weekend.
The team’s fringe players will get one more chance to impress the manager against Northampton after failing to do so against Feyenoord last Thursday.
If they show the same lack of concentration and effort at the Sixfields Stadium, United could exit the EFL Cup prematurely.
