Thursday 5 December 2019 09:36, UK
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata is underrated and deserves more credit as a No 10, says Jamie Carragher.
The Spain international got on the scoresheet against Arsenal on Saturday and caused plenty of problems for the Gunners.
But former Liverpool defender Carragher believes Mata is one of the most underappreciated players in the league, and should be considered among the best in his position.
"I think we're looking at one of the most underrated players in the Premier League," the Sky Sports pundit said on Monday Night Football.
"I think the reason he doesn't get that credit the others get is that he played his first two years here with Chelsea, then [Jose] Mourinho comes in - the 'best manager in the world' - and gets rid of him so everyone thinks 'Mourinho can't be wrong, so there must be something wrong with Mata'.
"He goes to Manchester United, but he's not a Manchester United player, he hasn't got any pace and the fee is well over the odds for him. But what No 10 has got pace?
"I think it's about time now that we start looking at Mata in these group of players - Kevin De Bruyne, Philippe Coutinho, David Silva, Eden Hazard - as one of the top players in the Premier League, which he is and has been.
"It's not a flash in the pan. He's been here five or six years, and he should start getting a lot more credit."
When analysing appearances against the 'big six' among his peers, Mata ranks top for minutes per goal and assists as well as having the highest goal and second-highest assist tally of the seven players included.
"He's played almost as much as anyone against 'big six' opposition, only bettered by Silva, so we're not talking about a run of seven or eight games when he's had a bit of luck and got a few goals.
"People always talk about assists with No 10's and I don't care what position you play in, a goal is more important than an assist for me. The minutes for goals and assists is also a massive difference between the others, almost by 15 minutes.
"So he's getting more goals than those players in those positions. Silva only has more assists and we talk about those players and the influence that they have, but this is where it is important, in those big games."
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