Louis van Gaal's men have not been a factor in the title race since a disastrous dip in form in December and head into Sunday's encounter trailing their opponents by 17 points. The 20-time league champions currently lie fifth, five points behind Arsenal and Manchester City in the race for the top four, and face the very real prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson departed.
Despite some of the pessimism currently surrounding the Red Devils, there is still plenty at stake in their remaining five games this season. Anthony Martial's dramatic injury-time winner against Everton last Saturday at Wembley secured United's place against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final a competition they have not won since 2004.
There is also hope in the league as United have a game in hand over Arsenal and City, with the Gunners still to visit the Etihad Stadium on May 8. Mata knows this season will be defined for United by what happens over the final month. He said “We still have the chance to make it look good. It has been a long season with a lot of games but we have the chance now to finish on a high. We have a chance to win a trophy - the FA Cup which the club has not won for a few years now. And I still believe we have a chance to reach the third or fourth position if we win all our remaining games in the Premier League”.
Mata has appeared in all 34 of United's league games this season, starting 31 of them, but has struggled to find his best form in a team that is on course to shatter the club's record low for league goals scored in a Premier League season of 58, which was set in 2004/05.
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