Monday 27 March 2017 10:33, UK
Manchester United's challenge of playing nine games in April is not fazing midfielder Juan Mata.
The Spaniard was in his homeland during international week for some rare downtime as his domestic team get set to continue their push for a top-four spot in the Premier League and a place in the Europa League semi-finals.
United, currently fifth, host West Brom on Saturday April 1, before facing Everton three days later and heading to Sunderland on April 9, live on Sky Sports 1.
They play Anderlecht home and away in the Europa League sandwiched by four other Premier League matches - three of which are on Sky Sports against Chelsea (April 16), Burnley (April 23), Manchester City (April 27), and wrap up the month by hosting Swansea.
"We're going to be facing a frantic month of April," Mata said in his latest blog on the United website.
"Since we have to play twice against Anderlecht (first and second leg), it makes a total of nine games for us the next month!
"It's not a complaint, it's just a reality and we have to adapt ourselves to it, in order to give the best we have in the decisive spell of the season.
"I see these games as a challenge to show all the good things we've been working on throughout the season, and I hope that we can get good results too."
The congestion is similar to United's schedule over Christmas, when they played five games in 16 days between December 26 and January 10.
United boss Jose Mourinho said in February: "We know our situation is really complicated. The Europa League is a competition where we play on Thursdays and that makes it even more difficult for us.
"With the accumulation of FA Cup, League Cup and matches postponed it is really hard for us."
