Nemanja Matic, signed by Jose Mourinho, was a key part of Manchester United’s midfield from 2017 to 2022. He provided reliability during this five-year period.
When he joined Old Trafford, the experienced Serb added skill to the team’s midfield. He played in the penalty shoot-out loss to Sevilla in the Europa League final.
By the time he arrived at Manchester United, Matic had already won three Premier League titles with Chelsea, though his physical abilities were not at their peak.
Normally playing as a deep-lying playmaker, the former Benfica player contributed well during a challenging time for the club. Over his five years, he made 189 appearances for United before moving to AS Roma four years ago. He subsequently played for Stade Rennais, Olympique Lyonnais, and Sassuolo.
It’s unfortunate that a player of his quality left the club without winning any trophies, which reflects the stagnation the club has experienced since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
Ferguson, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers ever, retired in 2013, and the club has struggled since then.
Matic recently shared his thoughts on United’s challenges in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, discussing his career and his motivation to keep playing at 37.
He also addressed the reasons behind the club’s decline in the past decade, criticizing the Glazer family’s ownership. Matic stated that the owners and fan expectations were misaligned.
“I think the owners weren’t in tune with the fans’ mentality and expectations. They were focused too much on marketing,” he said.
Matic believed that during tough times, the club should have invested more in football rather than its image. He mentioned, “Even us players spent two hours a week on marketing. Now, however, something has changed: Carrick was an excellent choice; they need to give him a couple of years to rebuild the team.”
He added that pressure is another factor contributing to the club’s struggles.
“The pressure,” he said. “It was difficult for everyone to accept that United weren’t the richest or strongest team in England.”
Playing for a club of United’s stature can be challenging, and Matic noted that some players struggle under fan expectations.
“I remember passing the ball backwards to switch play, and the crowd would react negatively. If Old Trafford is restless, young players can be affected,” he remarked.
Some players have left Manchester United and gone on to succeed elsewhere, with Scott McTominay being a notable example, supporting Matic’s perspective.