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Juan Mata has admitted Manchester United 's players have adopted a siege mentality as they try to get their stuttering season back on track.

United were held 1-1 at home by Stoke last Sunday and are currently in sixth spot in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Manchester City.

Jose Mourinho 's side face a key run of four game in 10 days after the international break, including Premier League clashes with Liverpool and Chelsea, and an EFL Cup tie at home to local rivals City, who have already beaten them at Old Trafford this season.

That run of games, which also includes a Europa League tie at home to Fenerbahce, could prove season-defining in the context of Mourinho's first campaign at United, who have yet to produce their best under the Special One.

(Image: Tom Purslow) (Image: Tom Purslow)

Asked if it helped having a siege mentality at United, amid criticism from from outside, Mata said: “Yeah, we need to help each other. We need to be stronger and look stronger as a team.

“I think we're doing that. We have good personalities in the dressing room here. We have players with experience and so many young players with the dream to play for this club.

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“We try to cheer ourselves up. When a player doesn't play and has less football, the other players have to help him, especially with the mentality, as we all know the qualities we have.”

Mata, speaking to United Review , added: “Mentally, you can be higher or lower and it can affect your game a lot, so what we try to do is always be in a balanced situation so we can express ourselves in the best way.”