NEMANJA’S AUTO MATIC
Frill-free Serb shows why he’s untouchable for Mourinho
IF there really is an untouchable in Jose Mourinho’s mind, it is not Romelu Lukaku.
Take no notice of that fanciful notion. If there really is an untouchable in Mourinho’s mind, it is Nemanja Matic.
He has been and will be, fitness permitting, the constant in this United season.
That is because he is the ultimate Jose player, the identikit Mourinho operator, the stuff of the Special One’s dreams.
He does what his manager likes to do – gets things done with strength, efficiency and the minimum of risk.
That is how Manchester United will advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League. That is how Mourinho loves it.
It is no coincidence that in 14 Premier and Champions League games this season, since the arrival of Serbia midfielder Matic, United have conceded just five goals.
As it happened, his most significant contribution here was the strike that gave United the breakthrough just before half-time.
His shot bounced off a post and rebounded in off the back of the Benfica keeper. It proved the decisive moment of a low-key contest.
Mourinho had a quiet look of satisfaction. When he weighs up his signings, there will be one that gives him the most satisfaction.
It will not be Lukaku, certainly if you reckon Mourinho seemed none too keen on him taking a second-half penalty that Daley Blind converted.
That gave the scoreline a slightly flattering look but to have qualification as good as sealed at this stage will be a relief for Mourinho.
One of the side effects of his egotistical grandstanding is that genuine problems are camouflaged by his nonsense, valid gripes are taken out by the smart alec snipes.
In a busy schedule, it is unfortunate Mourinho (above) has to select a midfield without the imposing options of Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick but no one is going to cut him any slack.
Wrestling with the issues of fatigue and injury, he gave a first Champions League start to Scott McTominay and it is fair to say the youngster took a while to adapt.
There was a nimbleness, a quick-footedness, to Benfica’s midfield that disturbed their hosts. Mind you, few are as nimble or as quickfooted as Anthony Martial, as Benfica discovered to their cost early on.
A trick of a stepover and a treat of a sidestep dizzied Douglas Pereira and Martial fell over the prostrate Brazilian.
What happened next, though, pretty much encapsulated why Mourinho does not have complete faith.
Martial assumed spot-kick duties and pretty much passed the ball to Mile Svilar.
The Benfica keeper did not so much save the penalty as close it down but it was still a rotten attempt.
Mourinho’s disdainful look said it all but Martial remains a player capable of changing games on his own. And it remains a challenge for Mourinho to get more out of him.
There was little ingenuity or incisiveness from anyone other than Martial for long periods, allowing Benfica to give David de Gea a couple of chances to shine, the pick of which was a wrong-handed, good-looking but routine diversion of a decent Diogo Goncalves hit.
The hit from Matic just before half-time was even more decent, fizzing no more than a couple of inches off the turf, whizzing past Svilar before he had completed his dive, thumping the woodwork and going back in off the hapless teenager.
It was an own goal and so Lukaku, who teed up Matic, does not even get an assist.
What he needs, of course, is a goal after a barren month.
That might have come when sub Marcus Rashford tumbled when Andreas Samaris challenged.
Despite Lukaku being keen, Blind somehow got the nod and converted the penalty with the minimum of fuss.
Just how Jose likes it.