Mata looking for quick response

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata says the squad is keen for a ‘quick reaction’ to their recent poor form when they host Manchester United on Sunday.

The star-studded London club have drawn their last two Premier League games – against newly promoted sides Swansea and Norwich – leaving them 12 points behind leaders Manchester City and Manchester United.

Mata is hopeful the clash with United at home can kick-start their stuttering campaign.

“The whole squad is not content with our game at the moment,” Mata told the Daily Mirror.

“We are not functioning well enough in the Premier League and we need a quick reaction. That is our main objective.”

“You can never say anything is impossible in football. But at the moment the gap is too big between us and the Manchester clubs. There’s too many points.”

“We need to reduce the gap on (third-placed) Spurs but to do that we need to keep winning – just win, win and win.”

“That’s why the match with United is so important to us in terms of belief and morale – to beat the champions is very important and that’s the challenge for the whole squad. We are all very focused on this game.”

Mata said United would present formidable opposition on Sunday, despite their lengthy injury list.

“I know United from my time at Valencia and it is a sensational squad. Players missing or not, we know it will be a hard match as both teams need the victory,” he said.

“Perhaps the danger is their midfield. Even if they miss Nani we must stop their forwards getting service.”

“(Paul) Scholes and (Ryan) Giggs are legends in football. It’s a great challenge to play against them and something to remember.”