Nemanja Matic

[5354 204]

his commitment to the team is great.

just saw him losing the ball but he was good in attempting to recover poession quickly

[Gilvorak 3,734]

It's perhaps even insulting to label him a Defensive midfielder on his showing for us so far. He could probably play #10 if needed.

Mikel isn't as bad as everyone claims IMO but Matic is like 2/3 levels better.

Lost count of the amount of challenges he won tonight.

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

10 tackles

[robsblubot 3,223]

It's perhaps even insulting to label him a Defensive midfielder on his showing for us so far. He could probably play #10 if needed.

Mikel isn't as bad as everyone claims IMO but Matic is like 2/3 levels better.

Lost count of the amount of challenges he won tonight.

Understand where you are coming from, but you've just said Mikel is just as bad... We never said Mikel should not play football for example; just that Chelsea could/should do better than him in that position.

And I agree he's just as comfortable as a deep lying CM or even moving ahead. He's a lot better than Fellaini for the same price - bargain!

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,739]

Cant believe we ever sold this guy.

Amazing footballer.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

This guy will be our most important player behind the cover. No one will realy see it, but the difference will be there. Same like Makelele.

Class player, his ball control for a 190cm tall DM is amazing. Once he settles in and gets used to league, he will be midfield general.

[Barbara 15,149]

This man is impressive.

He didn't have a match nearly as good as he did against City and still he's bossed the midfield yet again.

There were a couple of silly mistakes - but not only every player is entitled to have those, but this is a new guy, in a new and very physical league.

The way he just out-powers players with his size and strength is a pleasure to watch. He passes by them as if they were nothing, he has a great vision for a DM (or even in general), good pass. He's started some of good chances today (I remember twice, but I'll rewatch the match later and confirm it).

Amazing, amazing signing.

Damn it, we're so close of having the perfect squad. Make it happen, Mou!!!!

[Sheva. 5,373]

He was sloppy today, lost a few routine tackles and got caught on the ball 2 or 3 times.

But he still had a good game, he will only get better as he adapts more to the team.

[Jase 43,479]

Another good performance from him. A bit sloppy in possession at times but made challenges and won back the ball whenever the situation calls for it. And the plus point from Matic is that, he can also drive forward with the ball and play forward passes with the attacking players ahead of him, which speeds up our attacking play and give a little bit more variation or unpredictability, if you like, to our attacks. And like Mourinho said recently, he's a spider. He's everywhere!

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

Matic being left footed gives us great balance. His strength and vision is simply amazing.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Cant believe we ever sold this guy.

Amazing footballer.

If we didn't sell him, he wouldn't have ever got this good.

[kellzfresh 7,226]

So many tackles!!

This guy is a very intelligent footballer. He just knows how to cover up defensively for his teammates (especially hazard), knows when to get forward, releases the ball quickly.

Reminds me so much of javi martinez its ridiculous.

[Rekin 835]

If stats are to be believed (and they are, in this case), Nemanja Matic had an even better game today than against Man City.

Being a large fan of WhoScored I usually follow their numbers, and today Matic was the second best player on the pitch, securing a rating of 8,67 (Hazard had 8,9). He ended the game with 10 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 effective clearances and winning 4 aerial duels.
What you might have missed if you only checked the figures after the game is that he acquired most of those stats in the first half (8/10 tackles came there), which was the period in which we practically killed the game.

It is really something when a DM gets this kind of ratings, Matic got 8,67 in this and 8,48 against City. For comparison, neither Mikel nor Lampard has gotten those numbers in any appearance during the whole season. Ramires has achieved it only once, while scoring twice against Bucarest (got 8,92 then).

That in combination with the fact that he has only started twice in the premier league just makes him come off completely awesome.

Oh, he also got 7,8 against Stoke.

[lucio 5,395]

better than javi martinez imo. or at least the same level

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I am falling in love..

[Milan 17,835]

I am falling in love..

Hardly a surprise you greedy...

[jasonlol 154]

just imagine next season we might go from a matic-lampard double pivot to a matic-kroos pivot; now that would be something!

[robsblubot 3,223]

He (or they) was not 100% which is why they rested Ramires. City took too much from the players, spec midfield.

Ramires Matic and Willian ran more than 7 miles in the City match.