uan Mata sends message to Man United fans after they call for Louis van Gaal sacking
JUAN MATA says Manchester United were wounded by Saturday's defeat to Southampton - but has vowed to bounce back.
United lost 1-0 to the Saints thanks to Charlie Austin's late goal on his debut.
The home fans were furious at full time, berating manager Louis van Gaal as he walked down the tunnel.
The Red Devils slipped five points behind Tottenham in the race for a top-four finish.
And Mata insists United should at least have earned a draw from Old Trafford.
"After
several games without being defeated, we lost 0-1 to Southampton in Old
Trafford. And it hurts, it really does," Mata wrote on his blog.
"It was the perfect time to get the three points and stretch the good streak in 2016, but we couldn't make it.
"It
wasn't a good game from any of the teams, a draw would have been a fair
result (although not good enough for us), but a late goal from Austin
after a free-kick took the points away from us.
"It's another tough moment, for you and for us, but we must get through this.
"I understand your frustration, because we feel the same way, but we have to carry on."
United were booed off the pitch after the defeat, with many fans calling for Van Gaal to be sacked.
The loss was their first in five games, having beaten Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield the week before.
