Juan Mata has refused to rule himself out of Saturday night’s blockbuster derby against Sydney FC as the Western Sydney Wanderers superstar waits to make a decision on his fitness.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Spain playmaker had setup Brisbane’s winner at Suncorp Stadium but he is now facing a race against time to be fit for the showdown against rivals Sydney at Allianz Stadium.
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Asked about his injury at Bondi Beach on Wednesday, Mata told reporters: “Unfortunately, I felt my hamstring.
“The day before the game, I felt something in training but I thought it was fine. I woke up okay and in the warm-up (I felt nothing).
“But in the game, taking the first corner, I felt something in the hamstring. I tried to keep going but I couldn’t really run or sprint. I thought it was better to stop as a precaution.
“Lets see. I’m feeling better everyday.”
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Mata had started six of Western Sydney’s last seven matches, scoring once and supplying two assists in that period.
Pressed on whether he had a scan on his hamstring, Mata replied: “I had a little injury. There’s something there.
“I was hoping there was nothing on the scan but the scan was not clean. I’m taking every day as it comes and see how I feel for the weekend.”
With all eyes on Mata’s fitness, the 36-year-old was further questioned on the medical advice he had received from the Wanderers staff.
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“They don’t like to say how long. It’s more about feeling,” Mata replied.
“We work with the scan to see what I have. But especially we work with the feelings I have everyday and today I felt better than yesterday and hopefully tomorrow better than today.
“But hamstring is never good news.”
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Mata, who said he is happy in Australia after revealing he is yet to make a decision on his Wanderers future beyond 2024-25, added: “I hope on Friday I feel better and we can make the decision.
“Of course we have more players ready to play but if I end up not playing it’s a pity because of course this is a very nice game to play and hopefully a good game for us.
“… I will try my best to be in the game. Lets see how I develop.”
Meanwhile, Sydney FC star Douglas Costa is not expecting to start against the Wanderers as he works his way back to full fitness.
Costa return from a hamstring injury in Round 17, the former Bayern Munich, Juventus and Brazil attacker was an 83rd-minute substitute in the 4-1 rout of Adelaide United.
“That’s more a coach option because I just played like 10 minutes in the last game.
“I don’t think I’ll start from the beginning but I’ll be there to get my minutes and try to help the team once again.”
