United star Mata wary of ‘outstanding’ Vardy & Mahrez

Ian Watson
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy: Won't leave Leicester City in January

Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy: Won't leave Leicester City in January

Juan Mata has hailed “outstanding” duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez as Manchester United prepare to face top-of-the-table Leicester next weekend. 

The King Power Stadium plays host on Saturday evening to a clash between the first and second-placed teams in the Premier League, with the Foxes overtaking United this weekend courtesy of a 3-0 win at Newcastle.

Vardy equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League games with his opener at St James’ Park, and the striker has caught Mata’s eye along with Mahrez, who has reportedly been watched by United as they consider January reinforcements.

Mata wrote in his weekly blog: “Our next rival in the Premier League, as I said before, is Leicester. Claudio Ranieri’s team is having a remarkable season and the proof is that they are top of the league.

“In particular, Vardy (who has equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive games) and Mahrez are outstanding, playing at an exceptional level – we will have to be very careful with them.”

Mata, though, is focused first on the challenge of PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night and securing the points required to seal United’s berth in the Champions League knockout stages.

He added: “But, before [Leicester], it’s time for another Champions League night at Old Trafford against PSV Eindhoven. We lost there in the first week and now we want to get the three points that would take us closer to the next stage, and to live another special European night in the Theatre of Dreams.

We could make an important step to finish first in our group in the Champions League and we could climb to the top of the Premier League. This is how we face this new week. We’re feeling optimistic, as always, and our goal is to win both games and to have the best possible start to the busy period ahead. Obviously it’s going to be tough, and we will need to be at our highest level to beat PSV and Leicester. But let’s go little by little.”