Juan Mata praises Manchester United's new attacking approach, but is he right?

The former Chelsea playmaker praised United's attacking intent, but was frustrated as Diego Costa's stoppage-time goal cancelled out Jesse Lingard's opener.

"I want to highlight the team's image," wrote Mata on kicca.com.

"From the first minute we went for the victory and played good football, but unfortunately we let slip two points in the last few moments.

"It's a pity. It would have been a very important step in this second half of the Premiership, but Chelsea pushed hard (as expected) to at least tie the game and they finally scored their goal.

"The team is playing with more determination and confidence, and we want to keep it this way."

Mata won the 2012 Champions League with Chelsea, and received heartfelt applause at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "I'm deeply grateful for the reception from the Chelsea fans and their applause when I was substituted. It's something you keep in your memory forever."

United manager Louis van Gaal reacted angrily to questions on his own future following the game, amid renewed reports Jose Mourinho is in line to succeed him as boss at Old Trafford.

[STORY: Van Gaal lets frustration at Mourinho rumours show in outburst]

And the United manager reckons his side showed the attacking play supporters have craved, backing up the performance in the 3-0 win over Stoke.

But United are still without a win over Chelsea in 10 attempts.

Van Gaal paid tribute to the travelling support.

He added: "It's sad for the fans also. This match you heard only the Manchester United fans and not the Chelsea fans."

Van Gaal praised Cameron Borthwick-Jackson's performance in the draw, as the left-back showed signs of a bright future for the Red Devils

The 19-year-old academy graduate playing Costa on side and then being unable to recover in the equalising goal. Daley Blind's slip earlier in the move had allowed Costa to go free.

"It was such a pity because Borthwick-Jackson was playing fantastically and I was very proud of him," Van Gaal said on MUTV.

"It was a superb performance until the last quarter. In the last quarter we gave it away."

Juan Mata always enjoyed entertaining as a Chelsea player, and there will be some home supporters who continue to lament the decision by Jose Mourinho to sell such an offensive player. At least the penny seems to have dropped with Van Gaal about what his club's fans expect. As a former Liverpool captain and manager, Graeme Souness is never one to reel himself in when it comes to criticising United, but the Scotsman was highly impressed with the quality of United's performance at Stamford Bridge.

"It is hard to say as a Liverpool man, but Manchester United have been fabulous," said Souness as a Sky Sports pundit. Souness felt it was easily United's best performance for some time, described them as a real "team" and felt they were unfortunate not to depart Chelsea with three points. Coming off the 3-0 flogging of Stoke City that resembled what we traditionally come to expect of United in terms of attacking football that entertains the masses, the majority of their play at Stamford Bridge was easy on the eye. They also had more attempts at goal than Chelsea.

It could be argued that they should have been out of sight before Diego Costa scored the late equaliser, but United will move forth with hope in their heart. They are only six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, a gap that is hardly insurmountable with a third of the season left to play. If United continue to express themselves with renewed vigour and retain the best of their attacking instincts that worked so well against Chelsea, Van Gaal could yet lead his side into the Champions League.