Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Matic backs Ole youngsters to bring glory days back to United .... BUT it’ll take time
NEMANJA MATIC has revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sacrificing instant success to build his own Class of 92 – and create a title-winning dynasty for the future.
But Chelsea’s two-time former Premier League champion admits Manchester United are years away from recreating the success of Old Trafford’s favourite sons.
And until stars such as Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood, Daniel James and Aaron WanBissaka mature, United fans will have to hold on to Solskjaer’s vision and be patient.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the famous five of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers Gary and Phil, along with Ryan Giggs, were brought into a team of established hardcore seniors.
Solskjaer’s present-day squad lacks leaders. And Matic (above) knows that, although United have an exciting crop of youngsters, there’s no substitute for experience. “First of all, you should have quality. Obviously, in this squad we have quality, and no experience,” said the Serbian.
“Game by game these guys are improving, they take more responsibility on the pitch, off the pitch and quality and experience eventually brings you to the title.
“That we have five or six top, top players but they are still young – players like Rashford, Martial and Greenwood.
“In the future, we can expect them to lead the team. Until then, they have the quality, they have shown that on the pitch, but they are too young to lead the team.
“I am happy to see them improving every day and learning in training and I am sure later they will bring United back to where it belongs.
“We have a lot of young players, Mason Greenwood is one of them. He has great potential, we can all see that and, for sure, United have a project and know what they have to do, particularly with those players of the future.”
Under Norwegian boss Solskjaer, United’s summer tour of Australia and Asia has carried a positive vibe – vastly different from Jose Mourinho’s downbeat surliness and confrontational leadership a year ago in the USA.
But, a year on, after finishing sixth in the league and failing to qualify for the Champions League, United’s status remains exactly the same – a team and squad incapable of challenging Manchester City or Liverpool for the title. The difference in outlook is that United now have a clear plan for the future, but Matic believes it will be a slow burn.
“Football wants results, of course, especially at a club like Manchester United,” he said.
“But you need to give the young players time because at 17 you cannot play in the same way like you’re 26 or 27.
“The fans have to be patient so they can improve. I am happy that guys like Mason are getting a chance and using it in the best way.
“I want to see them playing regularly for United and I’m sure if they continue like this, they will.”
Matic – 31 later this week – is United’s most recent Premier League winner with titles at Chelsea in 2015 under Mourinho and in 2017 with Antonio Conte.
And, after being parachuted into Old Trafford by Mourinho in a £40million deal two years ago, no one in the current squad knows better what it takes to win a title.
“Experience is one of the key factors,” said Matic. “I won the league with Chelsea twice and in those teams we had a lot of experience – Frank Lampard, John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Didier Drogba – and we also had young, talented players like Eden Hazard.
“You need a mix of experience and young, talented players. This United team has a lot of good, young players – step by step they will get United back where they belong.”