On a night when an impressive Chelsea team delivered against Manchester City, Nemanja Matic stood out in particular.
When Chelsea re-signed a midfielder they had previously sold for a sizeable £21 million this January, most didn’t question the decision.
Sure, the transfer fee was a hefty one, while it’s never nice to admit you’ve made a mistake the first time around. But the arguments in favour were plentiful: the man in question had spent several years at Benfica progressing and developing – with another club paying his wages, no less. Now, he was coming back to west London in his prime.
Barely a month on, however, and the debate can already be closed – for the return of Nemanja Matic to Stamford Bridge doesn’t just look like a calculated gamble, it looks an absolute masterstroke.
In just three Premier League appearances for the Blues, the 25-year-old has looked like everything they have been missing all season. And that’s just the start of it.
Last night, Matic took to the task of holding off Manchester City as though it was a hobby, not a visit to a side that had won 11 out of 11 at their home ground. As Jamie Carragher noted after the game on Sky Sports, the Serb made the defensive handling of Yaya Toure look easy. Not many can do that.
His touch looked assured, too, while his passing didn’t let Jose Mourinho down, either. There was also the small matter of a thunderous drive from distance smacking against the crossbar…
In sum, Matic offered Chelsea an abundance both going forward and tracking back. After all the problems the Blues have had at the back this season – and in holding midfield – it looks as though they have found the perfect answer. The 25-year-old tackled superbly and never lost his composure, forming a great partnership with David Luiz for the night.
Perhaps that’s a pairing we can get used to seeing more of in the future.
Either way, what a great option to have for the big occasion – and what a promising start to Matic’s second spell at Chelsea. The Serb looks as though he is paying off that £21m transfer fee already.
image: © Yoca91
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