Nemanja Matic won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Chelsea. Nick Potts / PA
Nemanja Matic won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Chelsea. Nick Potts / PA
Nemanja Matic won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Chelsea. Nick Potts / PA
Nemanja Matic won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Chelsea. Nick Potts / PA

Matic 'delighted' to reunite with Mourinho after completing move to Man United from Chelsea


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New Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic intends to repay manager Jose Mourinho's faith in him as he targets Premier League and Champions League success.

The 28-year-old Serbia international has been signed by the Portuguese for a second time, having been brought back to Chelsea by him in 2014 after initially being sold by Carlo Ancelotti in 2011.

Matic leaped at the chance to be reunited with Mourinho, whom he believes will continue to improve him.

"Manchester is one of the biggest clubs in the world [but] also my wish was to train with Jose," the defensive midfielder told MUTV.

"Of course when you have a coach like him and a club like Manchester is you don't need to think a lot so my decision was very easy.

"I am very happy because we will work again together. He is a great coach and, when I worked with him before, he always took the best from me and I improve if I work with him.

"When the coach wants you to come to the club, it gives you more motivation, more possibility and I will try to...not try, I will, for sure, give my best to show that I deserve to be in this club and part of this group."

Matic has signed a three-year deal after completing a reported £40 million (Dh194.3m) move.

He has already set his sights on replicating the success he had at Stamford Bridge, where he won the league twice - once with Mourinho.

"I think that this squad is ready because it is more mature," Matic added. "They already work with Jose for one year so they know what they have to do and I am sure that this season we can do many things.

"As a member of the team, I think we can do many things. I'm sure that we will try to win the Premier League. Also, the Champions League, you never know what can happen.

"In the Champions League, everything is possible. (There are) many good teams, the best teams in Europe, so Manchester is one of the best for sure and it's very difficult to make a plan before the season starts but we will try to win every game, if it is possible."

Richard Jolly: Nemanja Matic deal good for Man United short-term, Chelsea long-term

Matic is United's third major signing of the summer after former Benfica team-mate Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku.

"With Victor we have been together at Benfica. Lukaku, I didn't play with him because when I left Chelsea (first time) he just signed there and I didn't have an opportunity to train and to play with him," he said.

"But I know him because we have played many times against each other. Both of them are great players and I think they are going to help Manchester to reach the targets."

Mourinho underlined how important he believes Matic is for his vision.

"Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player. He represents everything we want in a footballer - loyalty, consistency, ambition, team player," said the Red Devils boss.

"I would like to thank him for his desire to join us because without that, it would be impossible to have him here. I am sure our players and supporters will love him. A big welcome to our new number 31."

Andy Mitten: Mourinho pleased with Manchester United's US tour, but work still to be done

Matic is neither the first Serb nor the first Nemanja to play for United, following in the footsteps of former captain Nemanja Vidic.

A fearsome competitor on the pitch, Matic does not want to disappoint his compatriot when he meets him off it.

"Vidic was a great player and one of the players where I look to be similar because he had a great career," he added.

"It's great to be at the same club like him and I will try to do my best to repeat what he does because I don't want that, one day, he tells me, 'what are you doing there?'.

"So I will try to do my best for him to be happy."

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

 


 

Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world

New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.

The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.

Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.

“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.

"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."

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