Mata was just a toddler when Ryan Giggs burst onto the scene for United and he grew up captivated by the wing wizard, who this week continued to defy the passage of time by scoring for the 22nd consecutive season. The 37-year-old also broke his own record for being the oldest Champions League goalscorer at Benfica on Wednesday night and looks certain to play some part in Sunday's meeting with Chelsea. Mata, whose impact since joining the Blues bears comparison to that made by Giggs 21 years ago, said: "He showed what he's worth with his goal the other day. "He's actually one of the best wingers that there has been and are around right now. "I pay more attention to him because he plays in the same position I do. "He's an incredibly impressive player in his tackling, in his dribbling and in his general style." Sunday would not be the first time Mata has come across Giggs, with the pair briefly sharing the same pitch in Valencia's Champions League draw at Old Trafford almost a year ago. And it is Europe's premier club competition that Mata was mainly recruited to help Chelsea win, with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich continuing to bankroll the club's attempt to realise his ultimate dream. "I'm very much aware of this," said Mata. "Chelsea is a team that gives their all when it comes to any title and any competition. "The Champions League is obviously very important and it's something that's very attractive to us. "But we're also very interested in the Premier League and any other competitions that we take part in." Landing the Champions League appears to be more difficult than ever, especially with Barcelona and Real Madrid looking to have improved even further this season. Mata knows all about trailing in the wake of Spain's big two from his time at Valencia but he insisted they were not invincible. "Real Madrid and Barcelona have been doing well and growing very, very much in the last few years," Mata said. "They have been doing very well in the Champions League as well. "But I think there are a number of other teams right now that could create some problems for them. "I would mention Chelsea as one of those teams and this is a very difficult competition that we're in right now, so I think everyone has a chance."
