Manchester United's failure to top Champions League group takes shine off Juan Mata's Valencia reunion

The Spaniard enjoyed a warm welcome on an otherwise disappointing night for Jose Mourinho's men at Mestalla

Juan Mata admitted that his emotional return to Valencia was undercut by Manchester United’s failure to top their Champions League group after a limp 2-1 defeat at Mestalla.

An early strike from Carlos Soler and a farcical own goal from Phil Jones ensured that Marcus Rashford’s late goal could not give United the result they needed to leapfrog Juventus – who were shocked 2-1 by Young Boys in Switzerland – to advance as winners of Group H.

United are now likely to face a tough assignment in the Champions League round of 16, and after the game Mata said his gratitude at the warm welcome he received from Valencia supporters on his return to his former club was tempered by disappointment.

“We are disappointed because obviously it's more painful knowing that Juventus lost and if we'd have won we would have finished first in the group,” he said.

“It’s a disappointing night. It was special for me personally coming back to Valencia and feel the love of the club and the supporters, so I am grateful for that.

“But I’m disappointed overall. I think we reacted a bit too late, so we had some chances at the end that we could have scored.

“But overall we qualified and that was the most important thing and we knew that, but obviously we would have loved to have been first in the group.”

It is the sixth defeat that United have suffered in all competitions this season, and constitutes less than ideal preparation for Sunday’s trip to Anfield to take on Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The fixtures will keep coming thick and fast for Mourinho’s men over the gruelling festive period, but Mata insists there will be no hiding place for him or his teammates if they fall short again.

Mata remains a popular figure at former club Valencia (Getty)

“It's a very busy month and we have very important games coming, especially on Sunday,” the Spaniard told MUTV. “But I don't think it's an excuse because as a football player, you focus on the game that you are playing and try to give your best in every single game.

“Today we were already qualified but it was still a Champions League game against a good team.

“Obviously, they wanted to show that they can beat a club like Manchester United and they are not in a very good position in the league either.

“But today they pushed, and they wanted to show they are a very competitive side.

“I know it's difficult, but we have to keep going and especially with what we have coming on Sunday, we need to be ready for that.”