What Does The Signing Of Alexis Sanchez Mean For Juan Mata In Manchester United?

While Manchester United fans were over the moon with regards the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal this winter, one United player in particular might not be really impressed as Sanchez's signing might mean the end of his Manchester United career . Despite being successive Chelsea Players Player of the Year winner (2012 and 2013), Jose Mourinho infamously traded him to United for £35m in 2014 , six months after his second return to  Stamford Bridge.

At that time , the Portuguese made it known he didn't see Mata as his no.10 with Oscar the preferred choice . Known for favouring physical traits over creativity and skill, the Special One has never been a fan of the Spaniard's attacking  flair. As if that wasn't enough, in his first official match in charge (2016 Community Shield with Leicester City) having joined United in the summer of 2016, Mourinho substituted Mata in the dying minutes of the game despite only sending him on in the second half . Like a cat with nine lives, Mata went on to make 42 appearances across all competitions (only five other players made more appearances) that season playing 25 EPL games scoring six goals, assisting three and creating four big chances.

Usually deployed in the middle   of attack slightly behind the striker (Zlatan Ibrahimovic before his injury then Marcus Rashford) with Anthony Martial playing on the left  and Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the right in a 4-2-3-1 formation; this season a lot has changed as the little Spaniard has been moved to the right side of attack (Mkhitaryan struggled to even make the match day squad). With the signing of Sanchez who scores and assists more, Mata appears to be the attacking player to be sacrificed to accommodate the Chilean. While Mourinho is yet to change his formation; Martial (23 league games , nine goals, four assists and seven big chances created) has retained his attacking left position , Jessy Lingard in hot form (21 league games, seven goals, four assists and three big chances created) and Rashford (24 league games , four goals , five assists and seven big chances created) waiting to roar. Statistically, Mata has had an inferior record as regards to goals, assists and big chances created this season (20 games, three goals, three assists and four big chances created)  compared to the trio. With his contract set to run down this summer and no move by United to extend it, the former Valencia attacker who will be 30 in a few months time might be in his last season at the club. With Sanchez, Mourinho knows what he is likely to get from the Chilean considering his ability to chase the ball and press high on the opponents, make hard tackles and counter at speed as well as aerial duels all of which are part of Mata's weakness. A rare attacking player who performs better when he is at the heart of the team's attacking play, Mata is best when creating chances for teammates as well as producing moments of magic with little or no defensive responsibility which doesn't suit the Portuguese.

With four months to go before season end, it may be premature to speculate what might happen in the summer yet one thing is for sure, and that is that Alexis Sanchez will be given chances to impress from the start which means a regular starter is likely to drop to the bench soon .