Juan Mata prepares to haunt former club as Melbourne Victory hosts struggling Western Sydney Wanderers

Having achieved almost everything in football, Spanish star Juan Mata had nothing to prove despite his first A-League season not having gone to plan. A winner of a FIFA World Cup, a UEFA European Championship, a UEFA Champions League and countless other trophies and honours during his decorated career, 37-year-old Mata could easily have hung up his boots with his head held high – despite the lack of game time he was given by Western Sydney coach Alen Stajcic during the Wanderers’ 2024-25 campaign. However, there was a definite sense of unfinished A-League business for the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder. While Stajcic made it clear Mata wasn’t part of his plans, Wanderers officials still valued him highly and wanted him to sign a new deal. But Mata wanted to play somewhere where he was appreciated by a coach that was going to use him in a way fitting of a player of his ilk and talent. And after meeting with Melbourne Victory mentor Arthur Diles, Mata knew where he wanted to continue his career. “He (Diles) has told me to try to play my football and enjoy my game, and by doing that, hopefully I can contribute the way I’m doing now,” the veteran playmaker said ahead of the Victory’s clash with the Wanderers on Saturday at AAMI Park. “When somebody is happy and feels that they can bring their work to the group, and make a difference, they perform better, and that’s the way I’m feeling,” The Victory are in hot form, having won four successive games, thanks largely to the brilliance of Mata. In contrast, the Wanderers are rock bottom of the A-League, having picked up just one point from their past five matches, with Stajcic under intense pressure to save his job. However, Mata isn’t taking any joy from seeing his former club struggle. “I have a lot of friends in that team, and I have a lot of friends at the club,” he said. “I think they are in a situation that’s temporary because of the squad they have. They have been quite unlucky with chances, hitting the post so many times, so I’m sure they will be out of last position soon. “I’m really grateful to their fans. They created a great atmosphere … and the welcome they gave me was great. “Given my history with the Wanderers, and given that I have so many friends in the team, it’s of course going to be special to play them, but what I’m focusing on this week is us, and preparing for this gone as best as we can, and to try to enjoy another game at AAMI Park, hopefully with another good result.” Mata said he was proud of his Victory teammates for maintaining their belief when the club was going through its own rough patch earlier this season. Bottom of the table early last month, the Melbourne outfit is now in sixth spot, having secured 13 points from its past five games. “We never stopped believing that we could change the situation, and we did it.,” Mata said. “We are happy that we are playing well and getting good results, but we want to keep going. “We are still not in the position that we want to be in at the end of the season, and we still know that there are things to improve, so that’s our mentality.” A similar “mentality” has also served Mata so well during his stellar journey as a footballer. “A football player can have so much talent, or so much desire, but if you want to have a good career and perform at a good level, you have to be consistent in your behaviour and consistent in your attitude towards training and towards games,” he said. “That’s something that I’ve always tried to do in my career, and I also try to do here.”