It’s just a pity that Juan Mata is ineligible for Wednesday’s titanic Champions League struggle against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The £37million Spaniard is starting to find his feet big-time in the red of Manchester United and his performance – two goals and a fantastic back-heeled assist – was by far his most impressive since landing from Chelsea.
Even though he can’t play in Germany when United go in level with the European champions for their quarter-final second leg, Mata hopes his brilliant double against woeful Newcastle can act as a spur to his team-mates.
‘This team has quality and some momentum, so let’s do it,’ said Mata after his man-of-the-match performance.
Stunner: Juan Mata scored twice - the first a brilliant curling free-kick - as Manchester United eased to victory
Celebration: Mata celebrated with compatriot David de Gea, who was rested for this game
At the double: Mata celebrates his second goal, scored just five minutes into the second-half
Another: Javier Hernandez made it 3-0 to United, applying the finish to Shinji Kagawa's cross
Finishing touch: Adnan Januzaj scored Untied's fourth in added time
Match facts
Newcastle: Elliot 6, Santon 6, Williamson 6.5, Coloccini 5.5, Haidara 5, Anita 5, Gosling 4.5, Tiote 5, Gouffran 4.5 (Sh Ameobi 85), De Jong 4 (Ben Arfa 61, 6.5, Cisse 6
Subs not used: Yanga-Mbiwa, Taylor, Dummett, Alnwick, Armstrong.
Booked: Tiote.
Manager: Alan Pardew 4.5
Man United: Lindegaard 7, Valencia 7, 6.5, Jones 6, Evra 6 (Buttner 64, 6), Young 6 (Januzaj 18, 7), Fletcher 6.5, Fellaini 6 (Nani 70, 6), Mata 8, Kagawa 7, Hernandez 7
Subs not used: De Gea, Vidic, Cleverley, Wilson.
Goals: Mata 39, 50, Hernandez 64, Januzaj 90.
Manager: David Moyes 7
Ref: Kevin Friend 6
*Player ratings by Chris Wheeler at St James' Park
‘We have all had to stick together with the manager in bad moments this season. Bayern is a very important match.
Everyone says they are favourites, and that’s right because they won it last year. But we are Manchester United and we will try to win there.’
How Moyes would love Mata dictating play in the Allianz Arena particularly as Robin van Persie is injured and Wayne Rooney requiring treatment for a toe injury in order to be fit.
Given a free rein as the team’s creative No 10, Mata curled in a brilliant free-kick to open the scoring – running to the touchline to hug his Spanish pal David de Gear in celebration – and then kept his composure to score a killer second goal early in the second-half.
By the time he backheeled for Adjan Januzaj to score an injury-time fourth, United were playing like the champions they were last season despite David Moyes making eight changes from the first leg against Bayern – though his “reserves” still cost £154million.
In contrast, Newcastle were pitiful and have now lost three games on the trot, scoring none and conceding 11. Their manager Alan Pardew has two more games of a touchline ban to serve and they can’t get him back in the technical area quickly enough.
Beauty: Newcastle keeper Rob Elliott had no chance with Mata's free-kick
Cool: Mata cuts inside Fabricio Coloccini to roll the ball into an empty net
Rotation: David Moyes made a number of changes to his starting XI
‘There is no doubt we are lacking a cutting edge,’ acknowledged Pardew, whose lengthy injury list includes star striker Loic Remy.
‘The crowd want entertaining football and we aren’t providing it. Loic is not far away now and it will be a boost when we can get him back.
‘The last three games have been tough. Manchester United just had too much for us.’
Naturally, Moyes reserved his most effusive praise for Mata.
‘He’s got himself a good tally of goals in the last few seasons and been one of leading players for assists,’ said the United manager.
Swinging: Marouane Fellaini catches Dan Gosling with a stray arm
Taking on: Hernandez drives at Coloccini
‘He’s played well for us and made the team better but hadn’t got the goals to go with it. Now that’s coming as well. I thought he and Shinji (Kagawa) and Darren Fletcher were terrific in midfield.’
Visiting goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard tipped over Newcastle’s best effort all afternoon, an early header by Papiss Cisse, and after that it was one-way traffic.
ewcastle disputed the award of a free-kick on the edge of the box when Darren Fletcher jumped over Mike Williamson’s tackle – ‘offside and not a foul’ argued Pardew – but there was no doubting the quality of Mata’s left-foot finish.
They could have been further ahead before half-time but Javier Hernandez hit the post after accidentally kicking Williamson in the face on his way to goal.
It wasn’t the best afternoon for the bushy-haired brigade. Marouane Fellaini was disappointing again and withdrawn in the second half after suffering from a dizzy spell.
Rare: Javier Hernandez made a rare start under David Moyes
Acrobat: Papiss Cisse swings a leg to get Newcastle on the attack
Under pressure: Juan Mata is closely guarded by Cheick Tiote
Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini made a hash of Lindegaard’s clearance in the build-up to the second goal and when he tried to recover, Mata left him on his backside with a sharp swivel before slotting in.
Newcastle fans, some of whom had taken part in a pre-match protest against owner Mike Ashley in the city centre, left before the end in their droves.
They missed Javier Hernandez tucking away a cutback by Januzaj to make it 3-0. Then Januzaj benefitted from Mata’s vision in injury-time. The teenager may now be needed in Munich with Ashley Young damaging ligaments in his right hand.
Manchester United have now risen to the giddy heights of sixth in the table. If they carry on like this, they will qualify for Europe – the much-derided Europa League.
Jumping: United skipper gets his head to the corner ahead of Fabricio Coloccini
Leap: Mike Williamson wins the aerial ball ahead of Marouane Fellaini
Nice view: Alan Pardew watches the action from his seat in the stand
‘We will try to finish as high as possible,’ said Moyes through gritted teeth.
Of longer-term interest was the partnership between Kagawa and Mata behind a lone striker, Hernandez.
‘We worked very well together,’ said Mata. It will be fascinating to see how Moyes fits van Persie – a striker who doesn’t make space for others with his runs – into the equation next season.
Some Newcastle fans voiced their disenchantment individually at Ashley at the final whistle.
For a stadium housing a team in the top half of the Premier League, St James' Park is not a happy place at the moment.
Off: Ashley Young was substituted early after injuring his hand
Crunch: Darren Fletcher and Dan Gosling challenge for a 50/50
On the bench: United youngster James Wilson was on the substitutes bench - but didn't make it on
Protest: newcastle fans protested ahead of the match over Mike Ashley's ownership
Demo: Newcastle fans drove a hired bus outside St James' Park
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