JUAN MATA TAKES NOTHING FOR GRANTED

Juan Mata has come a long way since making his professional debut in 2006 but feels his professional outlook has ensured he still feels young.

The 29-year-old made his La Liga bow for Valencia over a decade ago and has clocked up 157 appearances for Manchester United since arriving from Chelsea in 2014. During an exclusive interview with the latest edition of Inside United, the Spaniard was asked to take stock of his successful career - with plenty more highlights surely still to come.
When asked where he sees himself in his career right now, Mata replied, laughing: "Half way! Well, it's gone quickly to be honest. I made my professional debut when I was 18 in Real Madrid's second team, and then in Valencia in the first division when I was 19. So it's 10 years which went really, really quickly.
"Time flies, in general but, in football, even more. But I see myself young in a way, you know, my body feels good, my mind feels good. I'm hungry to keep enjoying this sport. So hopefully, all being well, I can be playing football for many more years."
The attacking midfielder was also asked what advice he would pass on now to a teenage Mata starting out on his footballing journey.
"What I said before, you know," he answered. "Just try to enjoy it, be professional - as I have been - take care of your body, because your body is your tool to perform at the good level for many years.
"I think it is so important that you don't take anything for granted. Wake up every day feeling lucky and privileged and go to training with the best motivation, because anything can change in one second. So don't taking anything for granted, even in football."
Read the full interview with Juan Mata in November's edition of Inside United, the official club magazine.