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Manchester United star Juan Mata: This is what Jose Mourinho must keep on doing
JUAN MATA believes Jose Mourinho needs to keep on displaying the passion that has got him into trouble.
Everton vs Man Utd - Premier League match preview
The Manchester United manager returns to the touchline at Everton today after serving a ban on Wednesday following his second sending off of the season against West Ham last Sunday.
And Mata feels it would be a mistake for the controversial Mourinho, who was also sent to the stands against Burnley, to abandon the fiery side that brought him so much success in the past.
Juan Mata reckons Jose Mourinho must keep on displaying his fiery passion
The Spaniard said: “Passion is needed in life. He has always been like this. That is what I believe. It is very important for me to have passion in what you do.
“If one day I lose that passion I wouldn't be happy because I couldn't play at my best level. Passion is something you need to perform at your highest level and to push your limits even more.”
Mourinho's passion has got him in trouble with the FA twice this season
Mata is set to return to the United side today as Wayne Rooney is suspended, but though Mourinho’s mean have only won one of their last seven league games, he insists their squad is as good as any of the title challengers’.
He added: “When you play for a club like Manchester United there are always going to be great players. We have a great squad and we have a squad that is at the level of other (top) teams.
Mourinho reacting angrily after being sent to the stands in the draw against Burnley
“We have great players in every position, we have players who sometimes don’t get a game but would be playing in different teams. I don’t see that the squad of United has less quality or is worse than any of the other top clubs.”
Mourinho sold Mata to United in 2014 when he was Chelsea boss but the World Cup winner, who has scored against Manchester City and Arsenal, has become a pivotal player for the Portuguese.
But he insisted he has not changed his game to fit in at United, explaining: “I don't see that I'm not doing the same. I am doing the same and trying the same but sometimes circumstances change. The teams are different, the clubs are different, the squad is different.”
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