There seemed a time when Nemanja Matić was destined to unceremoniously depart Old Trafford after he had seen a drastic decline in his playing time - but he’s since become an essential cog in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rapidly improving machine.
By the start of November last year, the Serbian had only featured in two Premier League games and amounted just 350 minutes of first-team football. The season before he’d played in 41 games and totalled upwards of 3, 000 minutes.
Come January, Matić himself looked ready to admit his departure was imminent as Solskjaer endeavoured to build a dynamic squad, a concept seemingly at odds with the robust and patient style of Matić’s method of play in midfield.
Matić’s ponderous nature and time spent looking for passes constantly slowed down the United attack, the final product often found lacking and leaving Solskjaer frustrated in the dugout. He just didn’t fit in with the United’s vision for the future.
Additionally, with the renewed performances of Fred this season, along with the consistent growth in quality from Scott McTominay, Matić looked to have fallen down to fifth in the midfield pecking order, behind the aforementioned, Bruno Fernandes, and Paul Pogba.
But Matić, once a relic of the Jose Mourinho era and a reminder of the turgid performances that haunted Old Trafford at that time, now finds himself at the epicentre of the new-look Manchester United.
It could be considered a stroke of good luck for Matić, in a slightly warped sense, that McTominay suffered an injury on Boxing Day which kept him out for two months, and forced Solskjaer to bring Matić into the team. Prior to that, Matić’s last start in the Premier League had been a 2-0 loss at West Ham in September.
In the period without Premier League time, he’d managed a few Europa League games and racked up some League Cup appearances - he’d come in as a rotation player, filling odd gaps where needed but never assured of a significant role in the squad.
Following his covering of the void left by Scott McTominay, who had otherwise been enjoying a tremendous season, Matić was rewarded with a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Old Trafford until at least next summer. At only 31, many had once considered that the best had been seen from the former Chelsea man.
However, with 12 games this season and 1, 093 minutes for United under his belt, Matić looks to have stated the case that he has a lot more to offer United, who will look to continue on their current trajectory.
So crucial has Matić been in the games that he’s played so far that he hasn’t been taken off once this season, whereas he’s featured from the bench five times. His total of 11 yellow cards for the season, the most behind Luke Shaw and Ashley Young, are indicative of the role he’s played for the side.
Defensively this season, Matić’s performances rank him as one of the top performers in the United squad for a number Premier League KPIs per 90 minutes, including interceptions (0.4), tackles (1.8), and blocks (0.4).
Part of the resurgence witnessed could be attributed to the balance United have found offensively, for the first time approaching each game with a strategy towards scoring. Granted, the snatch-and-grab technique has proven itself far more useful against opposition less inclined to sit back. But Matić, ill-suited to the speed, can rely on those around him to shoulder that burden.
Conversely, when encountering opposition content to let United come at them, Matić’s presence slightly dropped off from the box provide a barrier against the counter. It also offers a useful outlet if the holes aren’t being created, Matić able to switch play and shift the focus of attack.
Without the ball, Matić can now be left to his devices. Adept at playing an important role in breaking up opposition play and bolstering the defense with collected head, he’s an invaluable resource.
Matić though has also adapted his game to fit alongside the pace of his team, accepting he cannot match it for intensity, rather electing to become a catalyst for the rest of the team to work, averaging 55 passes a game, third-most for a midfielder behind Pogba and Fred. Moulding his style to gel with the squad evidences how important he can be for United going forward.
And during the coming to terms with his squad role and gradually shifting his style to complement the team, United retained something only two other members of the squad have - experience of winning the Premier League.
Smarterscout reported that United have had the youngest average starting XI this season at 25.2 based on playing time. It’s just younger than Chelsea at 25.8 and Bournemouth at 25.9. As such, the experiences offered by Matić, Juan Mata and David de Gea could prove to be an useful guiding hand for the young side.
The remainder of the season, let alone the one year left on his contract, gives Matić plenty of time to prove his worth to Solskjaer. It may prove difficult as United have a number of promising academy prospects coming through, such as James Garner, Dylan Levitt and Ethan Galbraith. But don’t count Matić out too soon.
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