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Juan Mata has admitted Manchester United must get their act together in a make-or-break month for Louis van Gaal's side.

United were sunk 3-0 at Arsenal in their first game in October and must regroup for Saturday's tough trip to Everton following the international break.

With a trip to CSKA Moscow after that and the Manchester derby on October 25, this month was always shaping up to being a potentially defining period of the season for United .

And United midfielder Mata admitted Van Gaal's men must bounce back from the Arsenal debacle with a win at Goodison Park - where they also lost 3-0 last season.

"Once I'm back in Manchester we will have to get ready for a few games that are going to be tough and thrilling," Mata said in his weekly blog One Hour Behind.

In pictures: Arsenal 3-0 Man United

"First against Everton, always an intense and complicated match, and next week against CSKA Moscow and Manchester City.

"October is meant to be a very difficult month and we must be ready for it."

United keeper David De Gea will need to maintain his fine current form if United are to come through October in a healthy position in the Premier League and Champions League.

De Gea, who signed a new deal with United last month following the last-minute collapse of his move to Real Madrid, refused to deny there is a get-out clause in his contract.

(Image: Reuters / Dylan Martinez)

Asked directly about a get-out clause, De Gea said: "You should ask Jorge Mendes [De Gea's agent] that question - he's the one who pays attention to those details."

De Gea is hoping to snatch the Spain No.1 spot from long-term first-choice Iker Casillas for Euro 2016 in France next summer and impressed in Monday's 1-0 win in Ukraine.

“I've said it before," said De Gea. "I want to be at the top of my game to make the decision [for Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque] as difficult as possible.

"I just want to maintain the form I had last season as I felt I was playing well. It's tricky maintaining a great run of form, but I need to keep improving and growing."