Mata Impressed By Solskjaer’s Striplings

Juan Mata has given Manchester United’s next generation of talent a ringing endorsement and told them to believe in themselves. Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted that one or two of his crop of available youngsters could see further first-team action in the two remaining Premier League matches of the season. Mata, who has both watched them in training and played alongside some of them, reckons they have the right mentality to succeed.

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“Obviously, it’s up to Ole to decide that but what I can tell you is that there are some good players in there,” the 31-year-old told manutd.com. “I like them very much. I like their work-rate and their attitude. They’re humble and they want to learn – that’s very important at that age. “I think they have the quality to be football players. After that, it’s not only to arrive, it’s to maintain yourself in that high-level performance that you need to play for such a club.

“I wish them the best because they’re good kids, they train hard and they deserve the best.” Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong were on the pitch as United became the first team in the history of the European Cup to reverse a two-goal deficit in the second leg of a knockout game away from home when the Red Devils beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in March.

And Mata says they can continue on their path to successful careers if they maintain the same attitude and believe in themselves. “I just will tell them they need to believe in themselves,” said the Spanish star. “They have to keep believing in themselves and always be humble enough to improve, to want more, to have good ambition, to improve as a player and just enjoy the game.”