When Mata first signed for the Reds, Wayne Rooney – who would later go on to be club captain – would perform a similar role at a time when experienced players such as Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were moving on.
In the third of four extracts we’re publishing from Juan’s autobiography 'Juan Mata: Suddenly A Footballer’, the forward compares Rooney’s captaincy style to some of the other great leaders he’s played with...
“Wazza is the type to get everyone up for it and he would shout loudly in the dressing room before every game, half-time or even after if the performance was not up to standard.