Matic: Spurs will provide a new challenge
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic says the Reds can draw confidence from our victory over Tottenham in the reverse fixture earlier this season but explains that he expects Saturday’s match to be a different kind of contest.
United produced a highlight moment in the season during October’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, coming away from the capital with a 3-0 victory.
However, since that clash on Halloween weekend, there has been change in the respective dugouts and, while Ralf Rangnick has taken interim charge at Old Trafford, Matic’s former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has taken the Spurs reins from Nuno Espirito Santo.
Our no.31 believes that we will be boosted with the experience of that game under our belts but says that two different-looking teams will compete for the three points in this weekend’s Premier League encounter in M16, and, therefore, we have to be ready to take on a new kind of assignment in order to have any chance of repeating the result.
However, since that clash on Halloween weekend, there has been change in the respective dugouts and, while Ralf Rangnick has taken interim charge at Old Trafford, Matic’s former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has taken the Spurs reins from Nuno Espirito Santo.
Our no.31 believes that we will be boosted with the experience of that game under our belts but says that two different-looking teams will compete for the three points in this weekend’s Premier League encounter in M16, and, therefore, we have to be ready to take on a new kind of assignment in order to have any chance of repeating the result.
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“Yes of course, it’s always good when you win the game, but that game [at Tottenham] is a long time ago,” the midfielder told club media.
“We have to be focused now more because, since then, they change the manager, we also changed the manager, so we have to take this game as a new challenge.
“We know it’s going to be very hard, especially because the last match they played some good football, they won 5-0 against Everton. It’s going to be very interesting and I’m sure we’ll be ready.”
“We have to be focused now more because, since then, they change the manager, we also changed the manager, so we have to take this game as a new challenge.
“We know it’s going to be very hard, especially because the last match they played some good football, they won 5-0 against Everton. It’s going to be very interesting and I’m sure we’ll be ready.”
The Serbian alludes to Spurs’ last result, a convincing victory over Everton on Monday, that came just over a week after their 4-0 triumph away to Leeds United.
Coming off the back of their two biggest league wins this season, Matic is fully aware of the strength of our upcoming opponents.
“They played very well as a team [against Everton]. I watched the last game and Harry Kane is in a good moment.
“It will be a hard game for us but I’m sure we’ll have a response for that.”
Coming off the back of their two biggest league wins this season, Matic is fully aware of the strength of our upcoming opponents.
“They played very well as a team [against Everton]. I watched the last game and Harry Kane is in a good moment.
“It will be a hard game for us but I’m sure we’ll have a response for that.”
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Matic and co will not only look to bounce back from last weekend’s Manchester derby defeat during Saturday’s teatime kick-off, but also aim to pick up a highly important three points in our pursuit of Champions League qualification.
United go into the game just two points ahead of the visitors – who also have two games in hand on us – in what is the first of our final 10 games of the league campaign.
“For us, every game is a final until the end of the season,” Matic insists.
“We have to win almost every game to secure the Champions League place, so I’m sure that we’ll be mentally ready and physically, I’m sure we’ll do everything to win [on Saturday].”
United go into the game just two points ahead of the visitors – who also have two games in hand on us – in what is the first of our final 10 games of the league campaign.
“For us, every game is a final until the end of the season,” Matic insists.
“We have to win almost every game to secure the Champions League place, so I’m sure that we’ll be mentally ready and physically, I’m sure we’ll do everything to win [on Saturday].”
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