Mata hails 'quality' Fernandes and backs Ighalo to 'score many goals'

‘Hopefully he can help us in this second part of the season and I’m sure he will because he’s a quality player’: Juan Mata hails Bruno Fernandes and backs fellow Man United new signing Odion Ighalo to ‘score many goals’

• Juan Mata has said Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo have settled in at Man U
• Fernandes joined from Sporting Lisbon and Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua 
• Mata hailed Fernandes as a ‘quality player’ and believes Ighalo can score goals
• Manchester United face Ighalo’s former club Watford on Sunday in the league

Juan Mata has said that Manchester United new boys Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo are settling in nicely at Old Trafford. 

Fernandes and Ighalo were two United’s three additions during the January transfer window, along with Southend goalkeeper Nathan Bishop. Fernandes had been linked with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in the summer and finally pushed through a move from Sporting Lisbon late in the window, but Ighalo’s deadline day move from Shanghai Shenhua came as a big shock. 

Mata has admitted both of them have adapted well to their new surroundings at United. 

Manchester United’s Juan Mata has said the club’s January signings are settling in well

Bruno Fernandes joined United from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon late in the window 

Odion Ighalo made a shock deadline day move from Shanghai Shenhua to the Red Devils

‘We welcomed them both,’ Mata said. ‘Bruno is a very good player, we all know that, and a very nice guy also. We have been in contact a lot.

‘He speaks Spanish mixed with Portuguese which is not very different, so he’s a good guy and I think he’s settling in very well.

‘He’s found his place in Manchester and also with the help of Fred, Andreas (Pereira) and Diogo (Dalot) he’s enjoying it. They’ve helped him a lot.

The Spaniard hailed Bruno Fernandes as a ‘quality player’ and said they’ve had lots of contact

Fernandes has featured in every match since joining for £62million in January

‘Hopefully he can help us in this second part of the season and I’m sure he will because he’s a quality player.’

Boyhood United fan Odion Ighalo could make his home debut for the Red Devils against his former club Watford on Sunday. Mata is confident that the 30-year-old can make a positive impact for the rest of the season. 

‘Odion has experience of playing in the Premier League and hopefully he will score many goals for us from now until the end of the season,’ said the Spaniard. 

Mata believes Ighalo can score goals for United during his half season loan at the club

The Nigerian has joined the club on a six-month loan from the Chinese Super League outfit

‘As the manager said, he’s a good character as well and he’s got a good personality which has fitted straight into the dressing room.

‘The better he does, then the better for us – and I wish him all the best.’

The last time United met Watford, they suffered their most embarrassing defeat of the Premier League campaign. Mata is determined to make amends for their Vicarage Road blunder that saw a David De Gea gaffe taint an already sour afternoon.  

A David De Gea gaffe cost United dearly when they visited Vicarage Road earlier in the season

Mata has admitted playing Watford will be tough as they have improved under Nigel Pearson

‘Yeah, that wasn’t a very good day for us… neither the performance nor the result,’ the 31-year-old midfielder Mata said.

‘They have been doing well under their new manager. I always thought they had a very strong team physically and they are difficult to beat.

‘So it will be tough but hopefully we can get a good result and from there build until the end of the season.’ 

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