10 reasons why Nemanja Matic is a good signing for United
- Red Reveal
- Aug 1, 2017
- 3 min read
We have completed the £40m signing of Serbian international midfielder Nemanja Matic from title-holders Chelsea and he becomes the 11th player to have played for Jose Mourinho in two different clubs - A list that includes fellow signing Romelu Lukaku, Mata, Etoo, Essien and more.
But what exactly does Matic bring to the table in a position he'll compete with Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and even Andreas Pereira?
Well, here are 10 handy reasons why we think Matic is naturally a valuable signing for United in the quest for domestic and European glory next season.
1. Jose Mourinho knows how to get the very best out of Matic, having won the Premier League with him in the 2014/15 season and he now has an abundance of options in midfield.
2. Getting the best out of Paul Pogba. In pogba's most successful seasons, he has mostly played as a part of a three-man midfield, normally cautious and aggressive ones. Now with Matic and Herrera clearing the mess, Pogboom will be free to roam forward in search of goals and other goal-related fun.
3. Mourinho's midfield changed throughout last season until it became clear that the first choice was either Pogba, Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera in a 4-3-3 or Pogba and Herrera in a 4-2-3-1. Matic is a big upgrade for both systems.
4. Matic is a combination of both Herrera and Carrick: A more powerful version of the Spaniard and infinitely more mobile version of veteran Carrick, he can play either as a box-to-box midfielder or a defensive holding player, doing the work of both when asked. It is likely he will be preferred to Herrera alongside Pogba in a two man midfield, freeing up room further up the pitch for another forward and making Mourinho's preferred 4-2-3-1 the first choice tactical set up.
5. Matic is a long-term replacement for Carrick. With the veteran turning 36 last week, he only has 1 more year left in his contract and although he provides real balance on the field, his slow pace doesn't help in quick transitions. Mourinho likes punishing teams on the counter and with Matic, he has someone who can launch attacks in an instant.
6. He is dynamic and creative too. Last season, he was able to move from box-to-box, producing seven assists from 26 chances created, often finding himself in the final third linking passes together in attacking moves.
Matic made more assists than any United player last season. Pic Courtesy United Xtra.
7. More players, more options: Another option is for Mourinho to start Matic alongside one of Herrera, Carrick or Fellaini and move Pogba into a number 10 position - Matic gives Mourinho more room to experiment tactically.
8. A direct upgrade from Fellaini. As the better all-round player, Matic would almost certainly replace Fellaini in this team. Equally, he could do Herrera's job, and if Pogba goes missing for a spell, Juan Mata could be brought into central midfield and turned into a Fabregas type, pulling the strings alongside the dynamic Matic in an entirely hypothetical tactical setup.
9. He has an eye for goal. Despite him being a defensive minded player, he has a hammer of a left foot, just ask Tottenham Hotspur. Lurking on the edge of the box, he has that ruthless left-foot that when hits the ball, it stays hit!!
This is one of the things he has in his locker....Boom!!
10. He is a winner. There's a time Mourinho bemoaned lack of winners in the dressing room apart from maybe Rooney and Carrick, but now with Matic, we are acquiring a proven Premier League winner who has won 2 titles in the last 3 years. Definitely a winning mentality we can do with.
Drop us a comment and tell us what he may also offer now that he is at United....
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