Manchester United hope Nemanja Matic will be both the lock for a tighter defence and the key to unleashing Paul Pogba as an attacking force
Antonio Conte may have deemed Nemanja Matic expendable but the Serb was nevertheless important to two Premier League titles in three seasons at Chelsea and Jose Mourinho evidently rates that pedigree highly.
Committing £40million to a holding midfielder in this transfer landscape barely raises an eyebrow and if anything United will feel they have a good deal, particularly should Matic reprise the form of his first 18 months back at Stamford Bridge following his return from Benfica.
Conte’s reasons for wanting to move Matic on stem from a campaign where N’Golo Kante proved the star performer in midfield and the successful chase for Tiemoue Bakayoko of Monaco. Conte believes he is getting a younger upgrade and that may prove the case.
Yet Mourinho can justifiably be mightily satisfied at this latest bit of business. Matic may have indeed just completed a season below his best but he still kept Cesc Fabregas out of the side for the most part and continued to do the simple work in the centre of the park that allows others to thrive and can easily go overlooked.
That is a cog Mourinho has been searching for since arriving at Old Trafford. Marouane Fellaini was at times given that role in makeshift fashion but for Matic the anticipation, discipline, and positional sense required comes naturally.
He can win possession and drive forward in a muscular manner but in the main Mourinho wants a midfielder who will provide the lock in front of defence, gifting greater offensive freedom to those around him.
Paul Pogba was criticised last season for failing to reach the heights hit at Juventus. Contrary to some belief he did shine in moments, notably the Europa League final, but for £89m more could have been expected. Yet the Frenchman was operating in a different system, alongside different personnel to that which brought his finest form in Turin.
Mourinho relied mostly on a 4-2-3-1 formation but did also employ the three-man midfield Pogba was familiar with. But it felt forced due to the players available. Ander Herrera was United’s player of the season, a fiery bee across the pitch, but he is better being allowed to cover plenty of grass than asked to sit deep.
So Pogba’s inclination to get forward was occasionally confused by defensive responsibilities and an uncertainty over the protection offered further back. Matic should solve that problem, at his peak a guarantee of resilience and composure on the ball.
Regardless of the lukewarm appraisals that followed some of his displays, Matic was never dropped on cause of form by Conte and that should stand for something. He is well-versed in the rigours of the English game and, while needing to regain his match sharpness after being left out of Chelsea’s Far East tour, should hit the ground running.
True, his confidence appeared affected last season, following on from the disaster of Mourinho’s final year at Chelsea. It was in October 2015 that Mourinho replaced Matic within 28 minutes of introducing him as a second-half substitute. Matic’s mistakes were the cause, Mourinho said, rather than any attempt to humiliate. Whatever the ramifications back at Cobham there has clearly been a make-up since.
It must not be forgotten that Mourinho brought Matic back to England from Benfica and enjoyed a brilliant spell together in the title victory of 2014-15. When Matic first returned in January 2014 he made a mighty impact, dominating Yaya Toure in an early game at the Etihad that Chelsea won 1-0.
The United manager believes he can extract that kind of performance again from Matic, who turns 29 on Tuesday and is still in prime condition, with experience to boot. He contains the 'winner’ gene Mourinho – and United as a club – values highly, provides balance by being left-footed, and also adds to the growing cast of giants the Portuguese likes to have available for set-pieces at both ends.
At 6ft 4in, Matic will add to a strong spine of David de Gea, Eric Bailly, Pogba and Romelu Lukaku that will have opponents looking skywards. Michael Carrick, possibly the best ball-player in purest terms at United, is not small either and he will vie with Matic for a place. But at 36 years old the new club captain may have more of a presence in leadership terms.
The addition of Matic adds another level to United’s side ahead of a campaign where the title must be challenged for and a good stab at the Champions League made.
Manchester United's likely starting XI this season if the signing of Matic is completed
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Manchester United's likely starting XI this season if the signing of Matic is completed
Perhaps the likeliest line-up consists of a 4-3-3 where De Gea starts in goal, behind a back four of Antonio Valencia, Victor Lindelof, Bailly, and probably Matteo Darmian, although Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw could all operate there.
Matic should sit in the middle of Herrera to the right and Pogba to the left, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan on one wing and Marcus Rashford the other with Lukaku as centre forward. Juan Mata, Jese Lingard and Anthony Martial would all offer high-quality alternatives.
Such a squad list proves it has been another productive transfer market for United and Mourinho is close to having a team in his own image. He will hope that just as at Porto, Inter, Real Madrid, and Chelsea the second time round his second season in charge is more successful than the first, and that the title comes back to Old Trafford.
Committing £40million to a holding midfielder in this transfer landscape barely raises an eyebrow and if anything United will feel they have a good deal, particularly should Matic reprise the form of his first 18 months back at Stamford Bridge following his return from Benfica.
Conte’s reasons for wanting to move Matic on stem from a campaign where N’Golo Kante proved the star performer in midfield and the successful chase for Tiemoue Bakayoko of Monaco. Conte believes he is getting a younger upgrade and that may prove the case.
Yet Mourinho can justifiably be mightily satisfied at this latest bit of business. Matic may have indeed just completed a season below his best but he still kept Cesc Fabregas out of the side for the most part and continued to do the simple work in the centre of the park that allows others to thrive and can easily go overlooked.
That is a cog Mourinho has been searching for since arriving at Old Trafford. Marouane Fellaini was at times given that role in makeshift fashion but for Matic the anticipation, discipline, and positional sense required comes naturally.
He can win possession and drive forward in a muscular manner but in the main Mourinho wants a midfielder who will provide the lock in front of defence, gifting greater offensive freedom to those around him.
Paul Pogba was criticised last season for failing to reach the heights hit at Juventus. Contrary to some belief he did shine in moments, notably the Europa League final, but for £89m more could have been expected. Yet the Frenchman was operating in a different system, alongside different personnel to that which brought his finest form in Turin.
Mourinho relied mostly on a 4-2-3-1 formation but did also employ the three-man midfield Pogba was familiar with. But it felt forced due to the players available. Ander Herrera was United’s player of the season, a fiery bee across the pitch, but he is better being allowed to cover plenty of grass than asked to sit deep.
So Pogba’s inclination to get forward was occasionally confused by defensive responsibilities and an uncertainty over the protection offered further back. Matic should solve that problem, at his peak a guarantee of resilience and composure on the ball.
Regardless of the lukewarm appraisals that followed some of his displays, Matic was never dropped on cause of form by Conte and that should stand for something. He is well-versed in the rigours of the English game and, while needing to regain his match sharpness after being left out of Chelsea’s Far East tour, should hit the ground running.
True, his confidence appeared affected last season, following on from the disaster of Mourinho’s final year at Chelsea. It was in October 2015 that Mourinho replaced Matic within 28 minutes of introducing him as a second-half substitute. Matic’s mistakes were the cause, Mourinho said, rather than any attempt to humiliate. Whatever the ramifications back at Cobham there has clearly been a make-up since.
It must not be forgotten that Mourinho brought Matic back to England from Benfica and enjoyed a brilliant spell together in the title victory of 2014-15. When Matic first returned in January 2014 he made a mighty impact, dominating Yaya Toure in an early game at the Etihad that Chelsea won 1-0.
The United manager believes he can extract that kind of performance again from Matic, who turns 29 on Tuesday and is still in prime condition, with experience to boot. He contains the 'winner’ gene Mourinho – and United as a club – values highly, provides balance by being left-footed, and also adds to the growing cast of giants the Portuguese likes to have available for set-pieces at both ends.
At 6ft 4in, Matic will add to a strong spine of David de Gea, Eric Bailly, Pogba and Romelu Lukaku that will have opponents looking skywards. Michael Carrick, possibly the best ball-player in purest terms at United, is not small either and he will vie with Matic for a place. But at 36 years old the new club captain may have more of a presence in leadership terms.
The addition of Matic adds another level to United’s side ahead of a campaign where the title must be challenged for and a good stab at the Champions League made.
Manchester United's likely starting XI this season if the signing of Matic is completed
+8
Manchester United's likely starting XI this season if the signing of Matic is completed
Perhaps the likeliest line-up consists of a 4-3-3 where De Gea starts in goal, behind a back four of Antonio Valencia, Victor Lindelof, Bailly, and probably Matteo Darmian, although Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw could all operate there.
Matic should sit in the middle of Herrera to the right and Pogba to the left, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan on one wing and Marcus Rashford the other with Lukaku as centre forward. Juan Mata, Jese Lingard and Anthony Martial would all offer high-quality alternatives.
Such a squad list proves it has been another productive transfer market for United and Mourinho is close to having a team in his own image. He will hope that just as at Porto, Inter, Real Madrid, and Chelsea the second time round his second season in charge is more successful than the first, and that the title comes back to Old Trafford.
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