23/10/2017 10:00, Report by Juan Mata

Each and every Monday during the season, Manchester United star Juan Mata writes a personal blog. In his latest entry, the Spanish maestro reflects on the defeat to Huddersfield and the upcoming matches against Swansea and Tottenham...

Hi everyone,

Writing to you after a defeat is rather unusual this season, that’s the truth. We were on a very positive run of results but, this weekend, we didn’t play a good game and we came home with no points. We knew this moment would arrive sooner or later, although that’s something you never wish for, of course. Now, it’s time to learn from mistakes and keep going, as we always do, showing that the team sticks together when things don’t go so well, which is when we need it most. Since the European Super Cup defeat last summer, we’ve been performing really well against all kind of opponents. On Saturday, though, Huddersfield played their cards better than us and took all three points. All we can do now is congratulate them and move on. This is a not a sprint, but a marathon and there is still a long way to go.

Let’s not forget that, before that game, we had got a good win in Lisbon. We beat a very good side in Benfica, a team with plenty of Champions League experience. Sitting at the top of Group A with nine points is something that gives us confidence, and it shows we are doing well in many aspects. Obviously, the list of fixtures is very demanding, and our overall result this season will depend on how we combine the different competitions we’re in.

This week, for instance, we have two more games. On Tuesday, we’re back to the Carabao Cup. It’s against Swansea, a Premier League side, and we play them at the Liberty Stadium, so it’s going to be a tough game. But, we are the reigning champions and we will try our best to win and keep moving forward.

There’s another big game next weekend, this time against Tottenham. We return to Old Trafford after three games on the road and it’s a very important match. They’re one of the most difficult teams to beat in the top-flight, and it's a key game for us to show all the virtues we have been talking about over the last two months.

I’m leaving you now. I hope next Monday we can talk about very positive news. As I said before, it’s time to show that Saturday’s slip up is an isolated case, and that we remain in the same good direction we took at the beginning of the season.

Hugs,

Juan Mata

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