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Flop: Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic’s influence at Old Trafford has been largely waning since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins at the club a year ago, and thus far this season he’s only started 4 of Manchester United’s Premier League matches.
Tonight he was trusted to start in a double-pivot with Fred, and it’s safe to say his performance won’t have changed the opinions of his doubters.
Matic looked slow and lethargic throughout the match, as he failed to keep track of Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Lucas Torreira prior to his substitution late in the second half. For a holding midfield player of some renown, the Serbian’s statistics were worryingly poor.
Matic completed just 1 tackle throughout the game, and failed to register any interceptions or clearances. In comparison, his midfield partner Fred registered higher in all categories – and was the more accurate passer of the ball, too.
The likelihood is that if Scott McTominay were fit, Matic would not have started this game; judging by this showing, the sooner McTominay can return to full fitness, the better it will be for the Red Devils’ hopes.
