Nemanja Matic insists Man United are back in the Premier League title race

Simon Peach 13:14 04/09/2018
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  • Nemanja Matic believes Manchester United are back in the title hunt after a win masterminded by Jose Mourinho – a manager he says has been unperturbed by mounting pressure and remains one of the world’s best.

    United could ill afford the pressure to ratchet up any higher heading into the international break after chastening back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Tottenham.

    Last Monday’s 3-0 loss to Spurs was the biggest home defeat of Mourinho’s managerial career, with eyebrows raised further by the United manager’s press conference antics.

    But Matic knows there is a method to such bombast, helping to take the pressure away from his players ahead of a trip to Burnley that they won 2-0 on Sunday.

    “He was very confident before the game he prepared the game in a very good way,” the defensive midfielder said.

    “We knew where they could cause us problems with the long balls, that is why (Marouane) Fellaini played close to our defence, to stop the long balls and I think this performance shows that how we need to play football and we still can compete for the title.

    “Of course, he knows what he is doing (in press conferences) for sure. You probably know that also. It’s good for us also.

    “He is one of the best managers in the world, you know what he won in his career so that shows you everything.”

    But things have gone awry at Old Trafford of late – not that Matic, a Premier League winner under the Portuguese at Chelsea, has not seen any difference in Mourinho’s persona this season.

    “No, no,” the United midfielder said. “I think he is dealing very well with the pressure.

    “That is why he is here in Manchester United. I don’t see any difference.”

    The win at Burnley means United sit on six points after four games – and a further six behind Liverpool, Chelsea and surprise package Watford.

    Asked whether United can afford any further slip-ups considering the gap, Matic said: “Of course, but they (United’s rivals) also have to win all games, and I think that’s impossible.

    “Someone needs to lose to drop the points and it’s still too early to say something.

    “We will see in March where we are because in March you can see who is fighting for the title, who is not, who is fighting to be in the top 4. It is still too early.

    “We have to start to win the games and I think we played well, like we played first half against Spurs, I think we did well.

    “We won 2-0 but we also had many chances to score, but I am happy with 2-0.”

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