MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Nemanja Matic says his success at former club Chelsea demonstrates that he has nothing to prove in today’s Premier League clash between the two sides.
Matic joined champs Chelsea in 2014 under former manager Jose Mourinho and helped them win two league titles and a League Cup in three seasons.
The Serbian was reunited with Mourinho at United in July.
He has been instrumental in the Red Devil’s strong start this season as they sit second in the league standings and top of their Champions League group.“When I played there, I showed them my quality,” Matic was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
“We won the title twice and two cups, so I don’t have to prove to anything to them. I just have to prove something to my new club.”The 29-year-old said he was not concerned about his reception at Stamford Bridge but was wary of losing to the champions, as it would give rivals the opportunity to insert themselves into the title race.
“We know we must respect them. They are a good team, they’re champions and it’s going to be a hard game for us, but we also have our own qualities,” Matic added.“The Premier League is difficult.
You lose two games and the other teams are there, so it’s important not to lose points, of course, but there’s a long way to go.”Former Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata was part of the United team that lost 4-0 to Antonio Conte’s side last season, but the Spaniard believed the side’s focus was on the coming fixture.
Said Mata: “There’s not revenge on my mind. They are totally different games. What happened last season happened, now we have to think in the present.”“It’s always a difficult game playing Chelsea away but we will try our best.”
United trail leaders Manchester City by five points and last beat fourth-placed Chelsea in an away league game in 2012.Meanwhile, Chelsea must find the strength to beat United and get their season on track, manager Antonio Conte has said.
The champions are fourth after an underwhelming start to the campaign, with three defeats in their opening 10 games, and sit nine points behind leaders Manchester City and four behind second-placed United.Chelsea have not lost a home league game against United since 2012.