Mata & Ferguson Scoop October Awards

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has been named the Barclays Player of the Month for October with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson scooping the managers award.

Spaniard Mata has been in superb early-season form and scored three league goals in October, including strikes against Tottenham and Manchester United, to help propel Chelsea to the top of the Premier League.

Mata has become the first Blues player to pick up the award since David Luiz in March 2011. He told Chelseafc.com:

‘I’m very grateful for this award. It’s very important to keep going and improve because I am still young,’ the 24-year-old said.

‘The most important thing is the team and I am always trying to do my best to help the team.’

Meanwhile Manchester United’s long-serving manager Sir Alex Ferguson was handed his 27th monthly honour to celebrate 26 years in charge at Old Trafford.

United won all three games scoring 10 goals in victories over Newcastle, Stoke and Chelsea in October as they closed the gap on league leaders Chelsea.

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