Nemanja Matic has warned his Manchester United teammates that the job is not done yet against Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
United won 4-0 against the La Liga outfit in Turin last week and go into tomorrow night’s game with one foot in the last 16.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Matic talked up Sociedad, who caused United some problems last week while the game was still at 0-0.
“We can’t relax,” said the midfielder. “Because you saw how our game [in the] first 30-35 minutes was not that easy [in Turin].
“They created some opportunities. They have some amazing players in their squad. We cannot relax, because they know how to play football.”
Given Manchester United’s injury situation in midfield, it seems likely Matic will get a second consecutive start here.
Matic will likely with be charged with adding experience and steadiness to a rotated, young side in the return leg.
The game also represents an opportunity for Matic to remind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of what he can do.
The Serbian has slipped down the pecking order but with Paul Pogba out until the end of the month and question marks over Scott McTominay’s fitness, he could be vital in the games to come.
He might even captain the side, although it can’t be discounted that Solskjaer would hand the armband to someone like Axel Tuanzebe like he did in the EFL Cup against Rochdale last season.
The most important thing for Matic to do is keep the ball moving quickly and set an example to his teammates on a night where a professional job is needed.
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