Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic says his new side must continue to overcome their top 6 rivals if they are to be in with a chance of winning the Premier League title.
Matic has won the league twice with Chelsea, once under Jose Mourinho and once last season under Antonio Conte. Many believe the Serbian international could be an important coup for United in winning the league, with him adding extra protection to the defence as well as being one of the most solid defensive midfielders in the world. And Matic himself thinks his new side can challenge as long as they win games against their main rivals in the league.
United claimed a vitally important 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday thanks to a late Anthony Martial strike, but have previously looked very tame against the ‘big clubs’ and played a defensive style of game. They face big tests against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City in the weeks to come, and Matic believes his side must continue their winning ways against them.
“They are very important. I think that the title, you win in the let’s say ‘small games’ but also if you want to be first you have to win games like this, especially when you play at home you cannot drop points,” he said.
“It’s important for us, it’s a lot of pressure on us but we managed to score and to win. They also had one great chance, we also had [Jesse] Lingard on the counter-attack.
“I think the game was equal but maybe we deserve it a little more.
“It’s hard to say after 10 games that someone is going to be champion. In two games everything can change.
“I think there is five teams who will challenge for the title and if I say something now I will be wrong for sure.
“You have Manchester City, us, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham so with five or six teams it is going to be a big fight until the end and we will see in May.
“This is only 10 games but I’m happy that we are now second position, that we are there. We have a chance but we still have to improve.”
[Quotes via Mirror]
United currently sit 2nd in the table, 5 points behind leaders Manchester City who are unbeaten so far.