Roy Keane has questioned ’s decision to start Juan Mata for tonight’s clash with Brentford.
play their final home game of the season and still have European football to play for as they look to secure a spot.
The big team news saw Juan Mata handed his first league start of the season with the likes of Fred and starting on the bench.
Mata is out of contract at the end of the season and looks unlikely to sign a new deal, meaning tonight could be his farewell appearance in front of the home crowd.
United legend Keane isn’t one for sentiment though and isn’t convinced Mata is playing for the right reasons.
‘I’m surprised, it’s his first start of the season,’ he said on Sky Sports.
‘They obviously know he’s leaving the club and I think the manager’s looked at it and thought a bit of loyalty, I’ll give him a run out.
‘He said he’s trained well but it’s his first start to the season. He came on [last time out] and done okay for 20 minutes but coming on for 20 minutes and starting a game is obviously a lot different.
‘I just think it tells you where the mindset is. I think they’re giving players a run out for the wrong reasons.’
Rangnick insists Mata has earned his spot in tonight’s starting XI while Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani could also be handed farewell minutes if they come off the bench this evening given they are expected to depart in the summer.
‘He was very good in training, when he came on against Chelsea he also showed a good performance, he deserves to be in the team, I decided to play him in the centre of midfield and Bruno a little bit from the left,’ Rangnick said.
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