The Louis van Gaal effect; potential Manchester United XI come August

Juan Mata was brilliant for Chelsea, then fell from grace in the last year. His time at Old Trafford after January started slow, but once he got going, his ability came to the fore and he should be trusted to be the creative spark for United. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Juan Mata (CAM)

Criminally underused and ostracized at Stamford Bridge, moving to Manchester United was the best thing for Mata in the long term.  He started slow, but his numbers over all are quite strong.  He registered six goals and four assists in just fifteen appearances for the Red Devils, but an even greater role could potentially await him.

Assuming LvG uses either a 5-3-2 or a 3-4-3, Mata is sure to be slotted in behind the strikers, rather than isolated on the wing where his creativity and ability to pull the strings in the final third is wasted.  Remember, he won Chelsea player of the year two years running before last season, and that was by no means a fluke.  Reinvigorated since leaving London, United supporters still haven’t seen the best of him in the famous red kit yet.