Manchester United’s defeat left ‘bad taste’, says Juan Mata

Manchester United forward Juan Mata has stressed the frustration within the camp is the same as that of the club’s fans after Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Southampton.

Boos rang around Old Trafford following the final whistle of the Premier League contest as United boss Louis van Gaal endured what he later described as the worst reaction he has heard from supporters yet during his time in charge.

The Red Devils — frequently derided of late for playing in a dull, uninspiring way — had just one shot on target in a match that was settled by Charlie Austin’s late header. They are now five points off the top four in fifth place and have won only three of their last 13 matches in all competitions.

Van Gaal has expressed his own frustration, saying: “I’m very disappointed that I cannot reach the expectations of the fans. “They have — or they had — great expectations of me, and I cannot fulfil them.”

Meanwhile, Mata — a half-time substitute in the defeat — said in a message posted on his blog yesterday: “Once again I’m writing with a bad taste.

“After several games without being defeated, we lost 0-1 to Southampton in Old Trafford. And it hurts, it really does. It was the perfect time to get the three points and stretch the good streak in 2016, but we couldn’t make it.

“It wasn’t a good game from any of the teams, a draw would have been a fair result (although not good enough for us), but a late goal from Austin after a free-kick took the points away from us.

“It’s another tough moment, for you and for us, but we must get through this. I understand your frustration, because we feel the same way, but we have to carry on.”