United Briefing: Matic set for San Siro showdown
Nemanja Matic says he is thrilled at the prospect of playing at one of the world’s most iconic stadiums.
The midfielder was, of course, referring to the San Siro, where he and the rest of his Manchester United team-mates will be on Thursday when we take on AC Milan in the second leg of our last-16 Europa League tie.
United drew 1-1 with the Rossoneri in last week's meeting, meaning the Reds must score in Italy if we are to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
While Matic knows the Serie A outfit will present an extremely tough test once again, he hopes the team can take some lessons from the first leg into Thursday’s encounter.
United drew 1-1 with the Rossoneri in last week's meeting, meaning the Reds must score in Italy if we are to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
While Matic knows the Serie A outfit will present an extremely tough test once again, he hopes the team can take some lessons from the first leg into Thursday’s encounter.
“Now we know more about them,” the Serbian told club media. “We know the way they play. We have to be wary that they are a top team.
“They play good football, they have a good coach and it’s going to be an interesting game. It’s going to be hard for us again, but we are confident and we will try to win the game.”
Matic has previously told us that he watched Italian football growing up, and he’s very much looking forward to playing at the world-famous San Siro.
It’s a stadium that is set to be demolished in a few years’ time, so for Nemanja, this could be his only opportunity to step out at the arena.
“I never had the opportunity to play at the San Siro, this is my first time, so I am looking forward to that,” he said. “It’s an iconic stadium as everyone knows and we are happy that we can go there and compete with them again.”
“They play good football, they have a good coach and it’s going to be an interesting game. It’s going to be hard for us again, but we are confident and we will try to win the game.”
Matic has previously told us that he watched Italian football growing up, and he’s very much looking forward to playing at the world-famous San Siro.
It’s a stadium that is set to be demolished in a few years’ time, so for Nemanja, this could be his only opportunity to step out at the arena.
“I never had the opportunity to play at the San Siro, this is my first time, so I am looking forward to that,” he said. “It’s an iconic stadium as everyone knows and we are happy that we can go there and compete with them again.”
United must score in Milan if we are to progress to the next round, but, in such an attack-minded team, Matic says this fact will have no bearing on the Reds’ tactical approach.
“We will play our football because we are not a team that only defends. We always want to score more goals. I think we will play our football the same way we are always trying.
“We train every day and we will see. We are ready to compete and we have 90 minutes to show our quality.”
It’s perhaps the biggest week of United's season so far, which culminates with Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final with Leicester City, and Nemanja is certainly ready for the challenges that this week’s games will pose.
“We are coming to the end of the season so the quarter-finals and semi-finals are waiting for us. We have to show our character, our quality, and we have to show that we are ready to win some titles.”
“We will play our football because we are not a team that only defends. We always want to score more goals. I think we will play our football the same way we are always trying.
“We train every day and we will see. We are ready to compete and we have 90 minutes to show our quality.”
It’s perhaps the biggest week of United's season so far, which culminates with Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final with Leicester City, and Nemanja is certainly ready for the challenges that this week’s games will pose.
“We are coming to the end of the season so the quarter-finals and semi-finals are waiting for us. We have to show our character, our quality, and we have to show that we are ready to win some titles.”
Moving towards Milan
GalleryThe Reds have been snapped in training, as preparation for Thursday's big European game steps up.
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
We brought you pictures of our first-team squad in training and among those taking part were David De Gea, Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani.
It’s yet to be seen whether the quartet will be fit and available for Thursday’s mammoth clash, but all United fingers are crossed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can call upon their services in Milan.
It was also announced that youngster Anthony Elanga has penned a new deal with the club, while our women’s team are set to play at Old Trafford for the first time ever.
We also revealed what inspired Amad’s celebration against Milan in the first leg, while Bruno Fernandes had a message for Pogba.
We brought you pictures of our first-team squad in training and among those taking part were David De Gea, Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani.
It’s yet to be seen whether the quartet will be fit and available for Thursday’s mammoth clash, but all United fingers are crossed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can call upon their services in Milan.
It was also announced that youngster Anthony Elanga has penned a new deal with the club, while our women’s team are set to play at Old Trafford for the first time ever.
We also revealed what inspired Amad’s celebration against Milan in the first leg, while Bruno Fernandes had a message for Pogba.
United Daily: A teaser from Telles Video
United Daily: A teaser from Telles
Alex Telles and Nemanja Matic look ahead to our Milan meeting, while there’s a clip from the latest podcast…
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY?
Solskjaer will be speaking to the external media in the afternoon as part of his pre-match press conference, along with an as yet unnamed player.
Later in the day, the squad will make the journey to Milan ahead of our second-leg encounter.
We’ll also bring you all the pre-match build up ahead of the big game in Italy including articles, videos and much more.
Finally, we’d like to wish all our Irish Reds a very happy St Patrick’s Day!
Solskjaer will be speaking to the external media in the afternoon as part of his pre-match press conference, along with an as yet unnamed player.
Later in the day, the squad will make the journey to Milan ahead of our second-leg encounter.
We’ll also bring you all the pre-match build up ahead of the big game in Italy including articles, videos and much more.
Finally, we’d like to wish all our Irish Reds a very happy St Patrick’s Day!
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