Mata: Why United’s supporters are priceless
“What I remember the most about that first season was we always do a lap of honour, if you like, to say ‘thank you and goodbye, see you next season’. I was very, very afraid of that.
“We were in seventh position in the league, a position Manchester United should never be in. I was like I’m going to wave and they’re going to boos us and insult us, like they should feel. I come from Spain and know things turn difficult when a team is not performing.
“I didn’t want to look at the people, just in case. I was embarrassed. About halfway [around the pitch], I realised they were clapping and singing, encouraging us and saying it doesn’t matter, it’s next season. This is incredible.
