Any hopes of a Manchester United recovery in the battle to claim a Champions League place were dealt a big blow on Sunday afternoon as Louis Van Gaal's men went down 1-0 away to West Bromwich Albion.
The turning point of the match was a Juan Mata red card for two yellow card offences that took place in the 23rd and 26th minutes of the match.
The first booking was soft, and the second booking was harsh considering how quickly after the first it was and that Mata had only committed two fouls in the game, but it was worthy of the punishment that was given. Just about.
In his post-match interview, Van Gaal expressed his opinion that the red card was unfair not because of the nature of the fouls, or the timing of them, but because Juan Mata isn't that sort of player.
What can I say? When you send off a player like Mata.. I asked him, 'is this your first red card?' I believed that already before putting the question to him, it was rhetorical. When you do that within 3 minutes? Ok, you can do it, probably, according to the rules but I think also the referee has to know the person who is doing that.
Because I don't think Mata has ever had bad tackles or anything like that.
It wasn't like it was a two-footed challenge, so the question is; Mata is not the type of player to make two silly fouls in a short space of time? Clearly he is.
Or should Juan Mata never be allowed to be sent off? Granted, he is an absolute gentleman, but come on.
Mata was at fault here. He made two silly fouls, that he himself will in all likeliness admit in his weekly blog when it is published this week.
Last weekend he was the match-winner against Watford, but this week he cost his team the game by making the match much more difficult for his (largely inexperienced) teammates. From hero to villain in a week, such is life as a footballer. As we said before we are looking forward to his blog this week, but all we know for sure, is that there will be hugs.
