The midfielder doesn’t want to predict how he will settle in. “It’s difficult to say because I like the supporters to make that judgment on me, but as I said before, I will give my best and I always try to do even more than I can on the pitch,” he says. “That position, the player needs to give balance to the team and control the game and that is what I try to do. I can’t say that position is more important than any other position, but when you play in the centre of the pitch you have to know every time where the ball is, and when you attack you have to know how to stop the opponents to make counter attacks because in that position you have to give balance.”
Matic’s name fits into the syllables of another famous Nemanja to have played for the club. Matic rates Vidic very highly. “He was a great player, he was one of the players who I look to be similar to because he had a great career. When I came first time to the Serbian national team he was one of the captains, one of the leaders, so it is great to be in the same club as him and I will try to repeat what he did at this club. I know it is going to be very hard but I will try to do the best because I don’t want him turning to me one day and saying, ‘what are you doing there?!’ so I will try to do my best for him to be happy,” Matic said, adding he’d be delighted if the fans adapted the Vidic song for him.
He said he was looking forward to his league debut. “It’s going to be something special,” he admitted. ” To play at Old Trafford in a Manchester shirt I think is something special. I didn’t have that opportunity yet but for sure it is going to be great and yeah I am looking forward to it. As a member of the team I think we can do many things. I am sure that we will try to win the Premier League and in the Champions League. You never know in the Champions League, anything is possible.
“Manchester is one of the best teams in Europe and it’s very difficult to make a plan before the season starts, but we will try to win every game if it’s possible. I missed the Champions League last year, so this competition is something special. It has the best clubs in Europe in it so we are happy to be in it. I know a couple of players, especially (Juan) Mata because I played with him and I saw him this morning, but most of the guys I have played against them and I think my adaptation will be quick.”
Matic stands to make his debut next week in the Super Cup against Real Madrid. “It’s going to be a great game – two big clubs, so it will be interesting,” he says. “All the world will watch that so I am happy that we can already compare our qualities with theirs. They are Champions League winners. It will be a hard game but I am sure we will be ready. The message (to fans) is one that we will give our best to make them happy and win the league this season and yeah, that’s it. We will give more than 100 per cent.”
