Juan Mata has reiterated the importance of Manchester United bouncing back to winning ways in order to get their battle for a Champions League spot back on track.

The Red Devils have endured an inconsistent run of late in the Premier League, winning just two of their last six games to see the gap on Arsenal close right up.

A goalless draw away at Cambridge United in the FA Cup did not help matters last week, and Mata admits that his side must quickly brush themselves down to stop their campaign unravelling at the worst possible moment.

"It's very important to get back on a good run of results - like we did in November and December," he is quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard.

"We are arriving at a crucial moment in the season. The last 10 or 15 games are probably the most important. We have to perform, we have to win and we have to get where we want to be."

United return to action this weekend when they play host to Leicester City.