Jose Mourinho is delighted at Manchester United’s signing of Nemanja Matic this summer by saying the midfielder is a “perfect player” for him.
The United boss has been quoted by Sky Sports this morning ahead of our 2017-18 Premier League opener versus West Ham.
Matic joined from rivals Chelsea in a deal believed to be £40 million but one that should be a huge boost to our midfield.
The 29-year-old played a crucial role in protecting the Blues’ defence during their 2014-15 Premier League title success under Mourinho, and was again an integral part of the midfield last summer under Antonio Conte. His defensive work will allow the likes of Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba more confidence to break forward quickly knowing they have great protection behind them.
Chelsea’s acquisition of Tiemoue Bakayoko put the Serbian international out-of-favour at Stamford Bridge, allowing us the opportunity to reunite the player with his former manager last month.
We had always been expected to sign a holding midfielder this summer with Michael Carrick now 36 and not trusted to start many games consecutively by Mourinho. I am really excited by the prospect of Nemanja Matic in our midfield, hoping he will be given the opportunity to form a partnership with Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba as our first choice central trio.
Mourinho has been quoted by Sky Sports this morning as saying:
“When I joined Manchester United last year, I thought immediately that we needed a kind of Matic. There are not many, there are just a couple, but I thought that.
“But I was not thinking of it because I always thought I never like to go to players that I think are an impossible mission, and I felt there was no chance.
“Then this season, when I got the call that Matic wants to play for me and for Manchester United, and he can make it happen, I thought he’s the perfect player for me. Not just for his qualities but also for my relationship with him, the way I know him, the way he knows me.
“I think he’s one of these players where there are no question marks in front. He doesn’t need time to adapt, he’s not a young guy who came from another country, he’s not somebody that needs to learn the Premier League.
“He’s a player of, I think, now 29 last week – 29 years old, with five years or so in the Premier League, lots of experience. He’s one of these players that gives me what I like in players, which is consistency.
“It’s the way I trust the player is going to perform, so I think it was a fantastic signing for us.”
Nemanja Matic is not only a defensive player – he recorded seven assists in his 35 Premier League game last season, and who can forget his magical strike in Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham?
It seemed an odd decision for Chelsea to sell one of their most consistent players of last season but I’m not going to complain about that. Chelsea appear to have a few problems heading into the new season, highlighted by their 3-2 loss at home to Burnley yesterday.
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