Jose Mourinho has wasted little time bolstering his already bulging midfield prospects with the signing of former Benfica bruiser, Nemanja Matić. The midfielder – now a full Serbian international – returns to Stamford Bridge only three years after he was deemed surplus to requirement by previous boss Carlo Ancelotti:
After making his first acquisition of the winter transfer window, the Blues boss took time out to praise his new arrival:
“I am very pleased that Nemanja is returning to Chelsea. He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions.”
The midfielder went on to explain his decision to return to the Bridge and is keen to make an impact second time around in the Premier League:
“I insisted on leaving because I think this is the right moment. I want to improve, I want to play in a better league. I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at this club. I feel very good because of that and just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy.”
The History
Ironically, it was Chelsea who made Matić a high profile player in Europe, having signed the Serbian, then a 21-year-old prospect, for a reported £1.5m from Slovakian outfit MFK Košice back in 2009. Matić went on to make just two Premier League appearances for the west London side in his debut year, as Chelsea wrestled the title back from United under Ancelotti’s guidance.
The following season saw Matić move on loan to Dutch club Vitesse. The youngster made 29 appearances in league and cup over the course of the campaign, bagging a pair of league goals, but it was his time in the Portuguese top tier where he earned his stripes.
David Luiz’s hefty price tag, a reported €25m, was sweetened by makeweight Matić, then valued at around £3m, as Chelsea acquired the Brazil international centre back from Benfica on a memorable deadline day in January, 2011 – a day better remembered for the Torres/Carroll transfers.
Matić quickly become a regular fixture for the Portuguese side, making 95 competitive appearances (including domestic and international cups) and scoring nine goals in just under two years at the club. His honours include helping Benfica take the Taça da Liga (Portuguese League Cup) crown in 2012 and helping himself to three player of the month awards and the Primeira Liga Player of the Year in his full season (2012/13) – coincidentally, the same award won by David Luiz in his final season in Portugal.
The Prospects
At 25 years of age, Matić returns to Stamford Bridge as a rangy, tenacious, defensive midfielder who looks tailor-made for a role in the double-pivot in Mourinho’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Tall (six foot four, to be exact), powerful and uncompromising, he’s an aerial threat whose aggression will be welcome in both penalty boxes by the Blues boss.
Described as ‘cool and canny’ in possession, the versatile Serbian has been fielded in a more advanced berth in half his league games this season. With a multitude of creators already in place, though, he’ll vie for a regular role in front of the Chelsea back-four where he’ll typically be deployed to stifle the opposition’s attack.
Prior to Sunday’s win over United, though, Mourinho made it clear that Matić will have to earn the right to start and, with one eye already on the 2014/15 campaign, suggested the next few months will allow the midfielder the chance to settle within the Blues’ squad:
“Matic is not starting the game. I feel that I owe that respect to my players. He’s my player now, but I owe this to my other players. They are doing well and playing well. It wouldn’t send the right message to them if a new player came and immediately played in the team. So I won’t use Matic from the beginning. I’m sure he will [have an impact]. I’m happy he came now because it gives him these five or six months, so the beginning of next season is not the beginning for him. He will be in the team in this evolution, in this moment of building up a team we want the team to be for many years. I’m happy that he came in this window. Not because we desperately need him – we don’t, because our squad is a good squad and we have good balance – but in terms of how we analyse our squad for the future, his profile is the perfect one.”
Certainly, with Ramires, Frank Lampard, David Luiz and John Obi Mikel all vying for the double-pivot places, the competition is fierce. Matić’s arrival could, however, spell the end of Luiz’ occasional stints in midfield and the knock-on effect will increase competition for the central defensive places, where the Brazilian would threaten the security of starts offered by Gary Cahill alongside John Terry. This, perhaps, will see Fantasy managers eye up Cesar Azpilicueta as the safest of the budget-friendly options amongst Mourinho’s defenders; the 5.3 priced Spaniard has now started 11 of the last 12 Gameweeks in a Blues defence with four clean sheets in six.
Priced at 6.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Matić’s overall lack of attacking output is sure to keep him off our radars but, if he nails down a regular role under Mourinho, a cost of 6.6 in the Sky Sports game isn’t overly pricey, where his prospects for passing and tackling bonus will somewhat boost his appeal. As his new manager hints, though, it may not be until next summer before the Serbian firmly establishes himself as a legitimate first-team contender.
