‘I didn’t want to look at them… I was embarrassed’: Juan Mata admits he struggled to face Manchester United fans following poor first season at Old Trafford in 2013-14, but felt emotional after their ‘incredible’ support
- Man United finished seventh in 2013-14 after struggling under David Moyes
- Ryan Giggs took charge until the end of the season after Sir Alex Ferguson left
- Juan Mata only signed in January but his efforts couldn’t secure a top four spot
- He felt embarrassed as the season ended but praised the fans for their support
Juan Mata has pulled back the curtain on his disappointing first season at Manchester United, admitting he was embarrassed to face the club’s supporters after the team slumped to seventh.
The Spaniard was superb from a personal standpoint, scoring six goals and laying on four assists despite only signing in January of the 2013-14 campaign, but he couldn’t inspire the club to a top four finish.
The Red Devils struggled in their first season without Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes was given the axe towards the end of the campaign, with Ryan Giggs taking charge as caretaker.
Juan Mata has revealed he felt embarrassed as Manchester United finished seventh in 2013-14
With confidence low, Giggs failed to inspire a major turnaround as United finished outside the top four for the first time in over two decades. As the players went to applaud the fans following their win against Hull in the final match, Mata admitted he thought he would be booed.
‘We were in seventh position in the league, a position Manchester United should never be in,’ he told the club’s website.
‘I was like I’m going to wave and they’re going to boos us and insult us, like they should feel. I come from Spain and know things turn difficult when a team is not performing.
‘I didn’t want to look at the people, just in case. I was embarrassed.’
But he said he was stunned that the home faithful actually roared the team on to do better next season despite a poor season.
‘About halfway [around the pitch], I realised they were clapping and singing, encouraging us and saying it doesn’t matter, it’s next season. This is incredible.
‘It was unbelievable to have such fans behind you. You’re seventh in the league with Manchester United, having been winners the year before with Sir Alex Ferguson, but they don’t lose patience. They say: “keep going, it doesn’t matter”.
