Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has talked up the influence that club legend Sir Bobby Charlton has on the players.
Sunday's match against Everton at Old Trafford was preceded by a ceremony in which the stadium's South Stand was renamed the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand in tribute to the World Cup winner.
United marked the occasion with a 1-0 victory that takes them back to within one point of the Champions League places, and Mata was quick to dedicate the win to Charlton.
"This Sunday's game was special because of Sir Bobby Charlton. Ever since I arrived at this club I felt his support, and he gives you a calmness and positivity that are worthy of a great legend. He is a reference, someone who has proved with facts that you should never surrender; that, if you fight, you can get as far as you want no matter the obstacles that stand before you," the Spaniard wrote on Kicca.
"In short, he represents all the values that define this club, and both in the past and the present he still is the ideal ambassador of what being a Red Devil means. One side of his Theatre of Dreams already bears his name, and reminds us players about his greatness when we step onto the pitch.
"Things like these make you realise, once again, how special this club is. Sir Bobby Charlton, no doubt, is a leading example to all of us. The game against Everton was neither easy nor spectacular, but I think we worked hard to win. Besides, we wanted to dedicate the three points to Sir Bobby, obviously!"
Charlton scored a club-record 249 goals in 758 appearances for United, winning three league titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup in the process.
Barney Corkhill
