TIME TO STOP ROT
Let’s do our talking on the pitch says Matic
NEMANJA MATIC has admitted he had his worst game for Manchester United in the dreadful defeat at West Ham.
That result piled the pressure on boss Jose Mourinho, and the Serbian says United now need leaders on the pitch – not in the dressing room – for two vital home games this week.
They face Valencia in the Champions League tonight and Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday in a spell that could decide their under-fire manager’s fate.
Despite their shocking performance at the London Stadium on Saturday, Matic insists he and his team-mates are trying their best for Mourinho – even if appearances suggest otherwise.
“The manager is trying to turn this,” he said. “He is trying to make the team stronger and ready for the next challenge – and I can say that in the club everyone is giving his best to do better for the team.
“We didn’t play well on Saturday but we gave our best in that moment. This game was really bad but everyone has responsibility. I don’t believe any player goes onto the pitch not giving his best.
“Everyone who started the game wants to do better for himself, and after that it’s better for the team.
Accused
“For me, I played one of the worst games since I signed for Manchester United.
“I look in the mirror and I want to see where I made mistakes and where I can do better. Everyone does the same.
“Why we didn’t do well, the manager is going to tell us. He is going to show us some videos where we made mistakes and where we can do better.”
United have been accused of lacking leaders and Matic – normally one of the club’s most consistent performers – says the next two games will show whether they have got players who can step up.
“I don’t think with talking you can resolve something,” he added.
“The leaders need to be on the pitch. The leaders are the players who are not scared to play. We will see in the next games who are the leaders.
“For me, if you talk in the dressing room that doesn’t mean anything. Sometimes it can help but the most important is on the pitch.”
Matic says the players have held their own inquest into what is going wrong following Saturday’s defeat.
The experienced Serbia international denied that they have become frightened to play but admitted they have been outfought by teams who they should be beating – Wolves, Derby and West Ham in the last week.
“Pressure is always there,” he said. “All my life I play with pressure, also my team-mates.
“We are not scared to play. Everyone is trying to win. Everyone has a big motivation to win against Manchester United. We know that and we have to be ready but we were not ready in the last few games.
‘‘Everyone wants to fight against us but we are not scared to play and I’m sure we will show that in the next few games.
“Of course we spoke between us and we know the situation is not good and that we can do better.
“I expect that tomorrow everyone will give more than in the last game and be more concentrated.”
According to Matic, who worked under Mourinho at Chelsea, reputations and price tags count for nothing and United’s expensive squad need to start performing to justify wearing the shirt.
“In football every day you have to prove why you are wearing the shirt, especially at big clubs like Manchester United,” he added.
“It doesn’t matter what you won in the past, every day you have to prove you deserve to be on the pitch. Tomorrow is the next chance to prove that. “It’s always difficult when you lose the games and don’t collect the points, especially when you play in a big club that wants to win titles and trophies.
“It’s very hard but this is football, this is life. Everyone wants to do better.
“We know that we didn’t play well the last couple of games. Everyone is trying to resolve this situation.
“We always try to win and it’s a surprise for everyone. We will try to turn this situation around and we will work hard for that.
“When you don’t win a few games in a row there is more tension. We know that.
“We play for a big club and we will try to do everything to make it better and make our fans happy.”