Juan Mata has insisted that Jose Mourinho has made it very clear to the squad the importance of clinching the EFL Cup.
“Yes. He has told us and I think everyone realises how important it is,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a League Cup final…a final is a final and you never know when you will play one again.
“So you have to take advantage of the chance and try to win it. If you lose it’s a bad feeling.”
A final is always a special day in your career,” he says. “Obviously if you win it’s much better, but playing a final at Wembley in front of lots of our supporters gives the day a different feeling.
I consider myself lucky to have won the trophies I have won, but a final is a day you have to be focused on and you need to try not to make mistakes.
“But also you need to try to enjoy it as well. It’s a special day but without enjoying it you cannot perform at your best level.”
“It was a different situation because we had one more change than normal, we were winning, and he obviously tried to use some time with the change,” he said. “There was a lot of fuss about it but I was calm and happy at the end because the team won.
“I always have believed in myself and I know what I can bring to the team. I always kept my mind focused on what I had to do and helping the team the best I can. The rest I cannot control but that doesn’t matter to me.”