De Geas focus on national team Mata

Manchester United forward Juan Mata said Wednesday that his teammate David De Gea will know how to put his failed transfer to Real Madrid from Manchester United behind him and focus on the national team.

De Gea’s move to Real was wrecked in unclear circumstances on Monday when the paperwork was not delivered until after the midnight deadline.

Real and United blamed each other for the bureaucratic blunder, which means De Gea will remain in Manchester, while Real’s Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who was meant to join United as part of the deal, stays in Madrid.

Speaking in a news conference previewing Spain’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovakia, Mata said De Gea is focused on helping his country.

“David is now focused in the national team. We have two very important games to try to win to be first in the group and obviously he is going to be very professional as he always used to be,” he said.

“He is my friend and I wish the best for him but I’m sure he is going to manage the situation very well because he has always done it.”

Del Bosque called up De Gea despite the fact that United coach Louis van Gaal has not used the goalkeeper this season.

Asked if the De Gea’s lack of action at Manchester United could stop his progress in the national team, Mata said Del Bosque has always relied on the 24-year-old goalkeeper.

“I think he has the confidence of Vicente Del Bosque which is the man who makes the decisions in the national team. I think he is quite focused now in the national team.”

Appearing next to Mata was striker Diego Costa who said he is determined to repay the faith shown in him after he chose La Roja over his native Brazil.

“There are no excuses, I need to do better. If I have a good streak of games I’m sure things are going to be better for me,” he said adding that he has a lot to prove.

“I am feeling better physically all the time. I know I can give much more and hopefully that will start now.”

The 26-year-old Chelsea forward has returned to the squad after a series of niggling injuries and will have another chance to show his worth if Coach Vicente del Bosque deploys him in Spain’s qualifiers at home to group leaders Slovakia on Saturday (September 5) and away to Macedonia three days later.

With six matches played, Slovakia top Group C on a maximum 18 points after their surprise 2-1 over Spain in Zilina in October.