Juan Mata has picked Nemanja Matic 's side in the Serbian midfielder's disagreement with Roy Keane over the level of desire at Manchester United.
Matic will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season after five years with the Red Devils, with only three games left of his United career. He played a starring role in the draw with Chelsea on Thursday, providing the assist for Cristiano Ronaldo 's goal.
After the game, Matic had made it clear how much he would miss the club when he does depart in the summer. And he insisted that he would remain a supporter of the Red Devils even following his exit.
"I will try to enjoy it of course, for me it was a pleasure and an honour to play at Old Trafford for five years, and like I said before the game, I will do my best until the end of the season to try and help the team," Matic told Sky Sports.
"Three more games to play, Manchester United will stay forever in my heart, along with Chelsea who I played with for many years, they both have a special place in my heart. I’m sure going forward, I will be a supporter and wish them all the best."
But those comments provoked a furious reaction from Keane who questioned the motivation of the squad. The Irishman also took aim at Ralf Rangnick's decision to bring on Mata, another player set to depart, on for the final 11 minutes of the game.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Roy Keane right to fume at Nemanja Matic? Comment below.
"Where's the standards at the club? Where's the desire to keep going, keep going until the end? The players, Matic talking about 'I'm leaving, I've had a great time... Man United will always be in my heart oh and Chelsea as well, by the way, oh and Benfica - don't forget them, they can't all be in your heart," Keane fumed
"Mata has come on for Man United again tonight, he's come on the last few games. You've got some young kids on the bench - get them on. You're there to try and win a game of football for Man Utd. Forget all this 'oh, we'll give someone 20 minutes because he's leaving in a few weeks'."
But Mata has hit back at Keane and made it clear he sits with Matic, hailing United's performance against Chelsea. And he insisted that he believes it showed the squad still have the desire needed, despite the season winding down to disappointment.
“I think that the team today showed the reaction. [We showed] that we can compete when we give everything. [We showed] that we can fight together, that we can attack and defend together and that’s what we did today. Each of us gave everything we had,” he told MUTV.
"I think [we have to be] positive and be constructive. It is a season in which we have to learn. To not make the same mistakes over the season in order to compete better with the best teams and put this club to where it should be, which is competing for the best trophies.
“It is about pride. It is about representing your club the best you can. Every time you are on the training pitch and [in matches] you have to give everything. You have to play and try to play your best football and give the maximum effort that you have out there.”
