MATA READY TO FACE NEWCASTLE AND BENITEZ

Each and every Monday, Manchester United forward Juan Mata pens a personal blog. In his latest entry, the Spanish maestro reflects on the international break and looks forward to this weekend's return to Premier League action against Newcastle United at Old Trafford...

Hi everyone,I am writing to you this week after having disconnected from football for a few days.
As you know, we are in another international break so there is rest at club level and I have taken the opportunity to travel, to see my family and rest.
Today, we return to training with the mindset on the Newcastle match and the importance of the months that lie ahead, as they come loaded with games, especially during the Christmas period. These are moments in which good form of the team can be decisive for the second part of the season.
Returning now to our game against Newcastle on Saturday, everyone knows they are newly-promoted but they are still a big club with several Spanish players. Among them Rafa Benitez, a manager with whom I was lucky to work with in the past. It will be nice to see him again. We hope to play a good game that allows us to get all three points, and continue showing that strength in Old Trafford.
I hope everyone has a good week.
Hugs,
JuanThe full version of Juan's blog is available to read on his official website.THE STORY OF MATA AND RAFANewcastle boss Benitez managed Mata at Chelsea for a nine-month period, during the 2012-13 campaign which saw the forward register 35 assists and 19 goals in 64 appearances across all competitions.
The west London club lifted the UEFA Europa League during that spell, following a 2-1 win over Benfica at the Amsterdam Arena in Holland, courtesy of a 93rd-minute winner from Branislav Ivanovic.
Speaking in 2015, Mata said of his time with Rafa: "I had a great experience with him. That was probably my best year in England, in which I had the best statistics. He gave me enormous confidence to play."