Nemanja Matic shocked the football world when he decided to join Manchester United from Chelsea. The two clubs are fierce English rivals which rarely exchange players. Should Manchester United manage to win the league, the Serbian will match the feat his former teammate, N'golo Kante.
How important is he?
He was involved in the David Luiz deal between Chelsea and Benfica, and after three seasons, the Blues returned to sign him for more than they traded him for. Upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge, he made an instantaneous progress and won the league title under Jose Mourinho before repeating the feat under Antonio Conte.
The combination of the former Benfica midfielder with N'golo Kante at Chelsea played a significant role the Londoners winning the Premier League last season. The duo provided a protecting shield for their defense while at the same time gelling the midfield thus making it easy for the attackers to score more goals. In fact, Matic alongside his five former teammates was in the PFA Team of The Year.
Jose Mourinho knows too well the value of the midfielder he won the trophy with at Chelsea and that could be the reason why he added him to his squad. Chelsea's manager also knows the kind of player he has lost with Tiemoue Bakayoko still struggling to fit in the void that the Serbian left. The crafting of Matic in Manchester United together with Paul Pogba and has tightened the defense with the Red Devils conceding only two goals so far.
The combination has also made it easy for his side to score many goals in all competitions.
While at Chelsea, many fans called him the "Spider" because of his lanky legs that intercept a lot of the dangerous balls coming to his side's goal area. Having won the Premier League last season, Mourinho will be relying on him to impart the champion's spirit to his compatriots at the Theater of Dreams.
Why managers like him
The Serbian is a versatile midfielder who can play defensive, holding, and attacking roles for his side, so managers see him as a complete centerfield player.
He has both shooting and exceptional tackling ability that any football team needs. At 29, the former Benfica player is at his peak of his career and can deliver results to any side that he represents.
Also, the player is less susceptible to constant injuries so he can feature for his team even in tight fixtures. Besides, Matic has an excellent temperament while on the field of play, something that makes him earn few suspensions thus increasing his game time.
His well-mannered attitude enabled him to feature in nearly all Chelsea's game last season leading to the Premiership glory.
Many coaches need players with vast experience in soccer because they (players) can cope with various challenges. Matic who has played for top European sides like Chelsea, Benfica, Vetesse, and now Manchester United fits the bill.
