Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata insists that the glory days will return to Old Trafford despite his side’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Mata didn’t have the best of games against the Reds, but the World Cup winner is looking at an optimistic future for him and the club.

The Spaniard claimed on his weekly blog that: “The storm will pass and the sun will rise again. I have no doubt. Besides, no one said this would be easy, but this is football. It gives you fantastic moments but also very hard times you have to cope with, when you have to show pride and professionalism until the end. And when all this is gone I'm sure I will be a more mature footballer.”

"I'll be very honest: on a day like this it's not easy to write the blog. I even thought it would be better to keep quiet and not to write, for I know many fans are really upset now, and so are we. However, there is a commitment I made to update the blog every week. So far in these two seasons I haven't failed to do it one single time, and I won't fail in the future either. No matter how sad things may look."

Mata became Manchester United’s record signing during the January transfer window – costing the Red Devils £37.1m – but has yet to truly find his top form for the Red Devils.

However he maintained that he’s happy and is looking forward to their Champions League round-of-16 clash against Olympiakos this Wednesday.

"I have to say that our week at the training ground had been good and we were very hopeful ahead of this derby,” he wrote.

“However, on the day of the match everything went bad. We know the history of this club and its achievements, based on a winning spirit. That is what we need to beat Olympiakos and get through in the Champions League [on Wednesday evening]."