Juan Mata insists there is 'belief in the dressing room' that Manchester United can challenge again

Spain midfielder says there can be no repeat of their disastrous season

Juan Mata celebrates scoring for Manchester United (GETTY IMAGES)

Juan Mata has pinpointed Manchester United's poor home form as the reason for their dismal season, but claims there is a belief amongst the players that the club can challenge next season.

Under David Moyes United went from Champions of England to mid-table mediocrity.

United were the best team away from home but suffered numerous shock defeats at Old Trafford - in total seven losses at the Theatre of Dreams.

Moyes was dismissed as a result and Louis van Gaal, the Netherlands manager, is expected to lead the team next season.

Mata, who joined the club from Chelsea in January, has been assessing United's poor season.

"I don't know [why things have gone so wrong]. We did not get the results we had to especially at Old Trafford," he told Rabona magazine.

"I remember it as one of the most difficult places to play as a visiting team. We need to bring that back. That is very important.

"Away from home, we are getting the results. We have been the best team away from home. That is the key point: to be reliable again at Old Trafford."

Manchester United are expected to spend heavily in the transfer market this summer with a bid of £27m for Southampton left-back Luke Shaw in the offing.

"We have to make sure there is no repeat of what has happened this season," added Mata.

"We can be Manchester United again, as the club was in the last few years, winning Premier League titles.

"The belief in the dressing room is that we can again."

David Moyes was dismissed less than 10 months after taking over (Getty Images)

Mata hopes to use the experiences of the last 12 months, both the difficult spell at Manchester United and being frozen out of the first team at Chelsea, to improve next term.

"It has been a year to learn. It has been difficult to move clubs, and things right now at United [are tough].

"We have had some great games, but some bad ones too. I have learnt a lot. I have lived new experiences in my life, situations I have not had before in my career, such as at the beginning of the season when I was not playing a lot.

"It has made me a stronger person and a stronger person. I feel I have grown as a person."