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Tag: matic

  • Mourinho can be hard to work with if… – Matic

    Mourinho can be hard to work with if… – Matic

    Roma midfielder Nemanja Matic appreciates his relationship with coach Jose Mourinho.

    Matic worked with Mourinho also at Chelsea and Manchester United.

    He told The Times: “Everyone is agreed that he is one of the best managers in the history of football.

    “My personal relationship with him is great but, if you ask me why, I don’t know. I never ask for anything special from him and he can be a very hard guy to work with if you don’t have good results because he always wants to win.

    “He puts a lot of pressure on himself, the players and the staff. If you don’t win, you’re in big trouble.”

  • It’s a shame Pogba, Matic leaving Man Utd – Elanga

    It’s a shame Pogba, Matic leaving Man Utd – Elanga

    Manchester United attacker Anthony Elanga has reacted to the departure of midfield duo Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic from Old Trafford.

    “I learned so much. Both on and off the field. When you play in a club like Manchester United, there is a lot of pressure every day, so you have to be strong mentally and handle it,” he told Expressen.

    “They (teammates) have all been good to me.

    “Many players. Those who are going to leave, like Matic, Pogba have helped me a lot, he is like a big brother to me. They have all been good to me, Victor (Lindelof) too, both here in the national team and in United. So there are many, I can not choose one.

    Both Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic will leave United this summer and Elanga added: “It’s a shame, but that’s how life is, that’s how football goes. I wish them all the best.”

  • Juve close to agreement for Man Utd veteran Matic

    Juve close to agreement for Man Utd veteran Matic

    Serie A club Juventus are closing on a deal for Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic.

    The Daily Star says Juve are set to snap up Matic this summer.

    The Manchester United midfielder, 33, is available on a free transfer in June after agreeing with the club to terminate his current deal a year early.

    Serbian star Matic confirmed a fortnight ago that he would not be extending his four-year stay at Old Trafford.

    And that has led to Juventus’ approach to take the ex-Chelsea and Benfica man to Turin – and the opportunity to finish his career with a first spell in Serie A. The switch to Italy definitely appeals to Matic as do the financial terms on offer from the Italian giants.

    Although he is giving up 12 months’ wages at United – worth a basic £6.25m – a signing on fee of £10m from Juve more than covers any losses – Matic will pocket £90,000 a week in wages.

  • Ferdinand believes Matic playing final games for Man Utd

    Ferdinand believes Matic playing final games for Man Utd

    Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand doesn’t believe Nemanja Matic will be at the club next term.

    The veteran Serbian has been in and out of the team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick this term.

    While Matic has outstanding quality on the ball and a lot of experience, he has struggled physically to play several games in succession.

    “He’s a very good footballer in that position,” Ferdinand told the Vibe With Five podcast.

    “Very simple, understands the role very well, covers spaces, he’s physical enough, big enough to handle the physical demands.

    “I really like him, I respect him as a player, but he’s at the wrong end in terms of age and that profile of player.

    “I think he’s got till the end of this season, and I’d be surprised if he’s still in the squad next season. Just based on the age of what he is and where he is in his career.

    “But he’s a great servant to football, done a marvellous job and a great player.”

  • Rangnick changes won’t happen overnight – Matic

    Rangnick changes won’t happen overnight – Matic

    Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic feels for caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick and the job he’s taken on.

    With the pressure on the German to deliver a top-four finish and progress in the Champions League, Matic believes the presence of managers like Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte means Rangnick’s task could not be harder.

    Matic said: “I think this is the toughest league so far. When I came over in 2009, it was only Chelsea and Man United who were competing. Now there are a lot of teams who have a chance to win. The smaller ones have improved a lot and buy top-class players.

    “The Premier League is just very hard…much more than 15 years ago, and of course, every manager who comes to a new club needs a period to adapt.”

    Rangnick has not ruled out a longer stint at the helm if he can resurrect United’s campaign.

    He has signed a contract that guarantees him a further two years in an advisory capacity.

    Matic said: “Of course, it will take some time, but we have enough talent in the squad to understand quickly and play how he wants us to.

    “And that means a bit of everything, it isn’t just about pressing. You have to know what to do at this moment or that, and when and where to press.

    “You must be physically ready, play well tactically when your chance comes, and we are already adapting to him.

    “We understand his ideas and how he wants to play, what he wants from us in every position. Gradually we will be where he wants us to be.

    “We are all positive and we’re already adapting to him. It’s only the beginning but we are all positive about things, so we will see in the future.”

  • Matic tells Benfica: If you need me – call

    Matic tells Benfica: If you need me – call

    Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic says retirement hasn’t crossed his mind.

    Indeed, if it can’t be with United, Matic has said he would like to play for Benfica again.

    He told Record: “I still don’t think about retirement. Benfica has always been in my heart. If this team needs me, then I am ready to consider the proposal.

    “At the same time, I don’t think about leaving Manchester United yet, I like it here, but anything can happen in football.

    “In general, if one day I return to Portugal, Benfica is the only team for which I want to play for there.”

  • Matic tells Man Utd how to end goal drought

    Matic tells Man Utd how to end goal drought

    Nemanja Matic is looking for Manchester United to start taking a few risks in their bid to end a barren run in front of goal that has now reached 285 minutes.

    Three full games have come and gone since the Red Devils last found the target, with nobody in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad troubling the scorers since Bruno Fernandes converted a 75th-minute penalty at Newcastle on February 21.

    Matic told United’s official website following the stalemate at Selhurst Park: “It’s hard to explain, but I think that we have to do much better in these sorts of games, especially to create more opportunities, to risk more in their half, around their box.

    “Crystal Palace were very solid at the back. Their midfield dropped in a bit so it was very difficult to break through. We have to give credit to them, but we know what we have to do. We need to do better in attack. We know these are games we have to win.”

  • Nigeria 0-2 Serbia: Mitrovic double seal Serbia’s win over Super Eagles

    Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice as Serbia defeated Nigeria 2-0 in an international friendly played in London on Tuesday night.

    It was the Super Eagles’ second friendly in four days, following their 1-0 victory over Poland last Friday.

    The first half ended goalless.

    Serbia should have gone into the break 1-0 up, but Mitrovic’s finish, which clearly crossed the line, was not awarded by the linesman.

    Francis Uzoho then produced a fine save as the half came to a close.

    Nigeria’s best chance came from Victor Moses, whose shot was parried away by Vladimir Stojkovic.

    Mitrovic was not to be denied again in the second half, as he swept home a cross in the 68th minute to give Serbia the lead.

    The striker, who is currently on loan at Fulham from Newcastle, produced a similar finish with 10 minutes left, to make it 2-0.