Mata hails attacking intent

JUAN Mata rued a missed opportunity as Manchester United let victory slip at Chelsea.

The former Chelsea playmaker praised United’s attacking intent, but was frustrated as Diego Costa’s stoppage–time goal cancelled out Jesse Lingard’s opener.

“I want to highlight the team’s image,” Mata wrote. “From the first minute we went for the victory and played good football, but unfortunately we let slip two points in the last few moments.

“It’s a pity. It would have been a very important step in this second half of the Premiership, but Chelsea pushed hard to at least tie the game and they finally scored their goal.”

United boss Louis van Gaal praised Cameron Borthwick–Jackson’s performance in the draw, as the left–back showed signs of a bright future.

Van Gaal was “very proud” of Borthwick–Jackson, despite the 19–year–old academy graduate playing Costa on side and then being unable to recover in the equalising goal. Daley Blind’s slip earlier in the move had allowed Costa to go free.

“It was such a pity because Borthwick–Jackson had been playing fantastically and I was very proud of him,” Van Gaal said. “It was a superb performance until the last quarter.