Skip to main content

Mata: Rooney told me England will beat Spain

United trio Young-Mata-Rooney

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has received a warning from team-mate Wayne Rooney ahead of Spain's friendly against England on Friday: "We will beat you".

With both holders Spain and Roy Hodgson's side having qualified for next year's European Championship in France, the two teams begin their preparations for the finals in Alicante and Mata says England are taking the game very seriously - even if Rooney is set to start on the bench.

Speaking to Goal at Spain's training base in Madrid, the midfielder said: "I have had some contact with my team-mates, especially on WhatsApp. Wayne Rooney was telling me that they were going to beat us and that they are ready to play against Spain.

"They were watching some videos about us, about how we play, who could play, and I think they are very keen on playing the game and beating us. So obviously we have to be ready for that."

Mata, who has played his club football in England for the past five seasons with Chelsea and now Manchester United, sees the Three Lions as potential winners of Euro 2016.

"I think they have a great squad," he said. "They have a good manager and they are ready to fight against anyone. And I seriously believe they can win the next Euros and that they can be fighting for the title because I think they have a lot of qualities in their team."

Mata was left out in the cold at international level by coach Vicente del Bosque after Spain's disastrous World Cup campaign in 2014 and only returned to the fold in August of this year. He was later given the honour of captaining La Roja in the game against Ukraine last month.

"I'm very happy to be here with the national team," he said. "I receive every call-up with a lot of excitement. To wear the captain's armband is a dream for any Spanish player. I'm very proud. And I'm very much keen to keep performing well this year in order to be on that final list for Euro 2016. That would be a great reward for me."


And asked if he has spoken in depth to Del Bosque since his return to the set-up, he said: "No. Only about how I am doing currently and the moment each one of us is experiencing at our clubs...

"I'm happy to be here and to keep coming here. The season when I wasn't here was difficult for me because you always want to be in the squad.

"But I never had any doubt, I have always had a lot of confidence in myself. I knew that this moment would come and that I would be back with the national team, where I have been for so many years."

Mata says Spain's players have not spoken about the forthcoming Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona and insists they are focused on England and next week's friendly against Belgium.

"The Clasico? No, we haven't spoken about it," he insisted. "That's more for the press and for the fans, I think. We have watched videos of England, and that's what interests us. It's our next match, and then against Belgium.

mata interviewed for spain

"It's a good sign that we are playing two friendlies because that means we have had a good qualifying campaign and haven't needed to go to the play-offs."

Spain won Euro 2008 and defended their title, with Mata in the squad, in 2012. And despite something of a changing of the guard with players like Xavi and Xabi Alonso no longer around, the midfielder believes the new-look team can challenge for major prizes once again.

"It seems to me that there is a generational change which is logical and normal," he said. "There are players who were at the World Cup in Brazil who are no longer here, either because of their age or because the coach is no longer considering them. And younger players are coming here instead.

"But this team still has a very high competitive level to fight for titles. The demands are very high, especially because of what we have achieved in these last six to eight years, but the excitement and the desire remains the same. There is also plenty of talent for us to be competitive."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Depay: I'm a team player

The Manchester United winger has acknowledged his form is "not very good" at present, but rejected suggestions he is selfish Netherlands winger Memphis Depay has rejected Danny Blind's suggestion that he is not a team player and insists he is working as hard as ever to rediscover his best form. The 21-year-old inspired PSV to the Eredivisie title last season but has struggled to adapt to the Premier League since joining Manchester United for €27.5 million during the summer. Netherlands boss Blind claimed last week that Depay "does not always function for the team" but still included the the forward in his squad for the upcoming friendlies with Wales and Germany. "When I spoke to Danny Blind [after linking up with Netherlands], it was a very good conversation," the Red Devils forward told  NOS . "I think I’m a team player and the other players in the team also think that. “I don’t think I’m in a difficult path of my career, as the media says...

I'm back in Eagles to score goals, says Obafemi Martins

Nigeria international Obafemi Martins has declared that he is back to the Super Eagles with quest to score goals for the country beginning from the World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland on Friday. The Seattle Sounders’ forward returned to the senior national team after calling it quit last year after falling out with former coach Stephen Keshi. Obagoal as he is popularly called by admirers expressed delight with the atmosphere in camp, lauding the mix of young talents and experience in the Super Eagles. “I am glad I am back. It’s the national team. I am just here to score goals and help the team win games,” Martins told media. “The spirit in camp is good. We have talented young players. We have a new captain. Almost everything is new to me in the camp," he continued. "But I am going to do my best for the team to ensure we win because this is a World Cup qualifier and not a friendly. The only thing I am here for is to support them and help them win games,...

Why I'would Reject Real Madrid to stay at Arsenal-Alexis Sanchez

The Chile international says he is not interested in speculation linking him with a return to Spain, and addressed attempts to curse him by Peru fans Arsenal Star Alexis Sanchez Alexis Sanchez  has responded to reports linking him with move to  Real Madrid  by insisting he is happy at  Arsenal  and not thinking about leaving the club. The former Barcelona star has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu this week, with reports claiming los Blancos are lining up for a move for the Chile international in 2016. However, speaking at a press conference in Chile on Wednesday following back-to-back World Cup 2018 qualification wins, Alexis dismissed the speculation and stressed he plans on remaining at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future. "I have no idea what the media are saying, but I feel comfortable at Arsenal," he told reporters. "I'm happy with my team-mates and the city of London is beautiful. I'm not going to change, I'm very happ...