🇷🇸 Nemanja Matic

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

Different players.

Matic impact on our gameplay surpassed Witsel's. I'm not saying he is the best player, but was definitely more useful to us.

While Witsel always had the look of a great player, he never quite achieved his potential while playing for us... Matic... well... he was a beast.

Matic was the best player I saw playing for us. Better than Di Maria, David Luiz, Coentrao, Witsel etc.

Better than Cortez?

[Korea 734]

Different players.

Matic impact on our gameplay surpassed Witsel's. I'm not saying he is the best player, but was definitely more useful to us.

While Witsel always had the look of a great player, he never quite achieved his potential while playing for us... Matic... well... he was a beast.

Matic was the best player I saw playing for us. Better than Di Maria, David Luiz, Coentrao, Witsel etc.

I dont know about the others, but if he was better than Coentrao during his time at benfica, sign me up!

[José Mateus 46]

I dont know about the others, but if he was better than Coentrao during his time at benfica, sign me up!

Yes. Coentrao was really impressive during the season before his transfer, but didn't achieve the heights Matic did last season.

[robsblubot 3,595]

It's very naive to think that Cahill won't get injured or won't drop form or Luiz won't pick up his form...

yet it is far more likely Terry is the one picking a knock (on wood)... After all Cahill was signed to eventually replace Terry - similar characteristics.

If we do sell DL, we'd need a fit replacement. Right now with Ivanovic injured, we'd be very thin at the back. Really can't start the likes of Kalas and Kenneth in tough matches.

[The Skipper 20,609]

yet it is far more likely Terry is the one picking a knock (on wood)... After all Cahill was signed to eventually replace Terry - similar characteristics.

If we do sell DL, we'd need a fit replacement. Right now with Ivanovic injured, we'd be very thin at the back. Really can't start the likes of Kalas and Kenneth in tough matches.

And Kenneth's even gone out on loan so pretty much right now if we did sell Luiz we'd have to throw in Kalas at CB if Cahill or Terry got a knock.

[pachman40 357]

I hear a lot of Benfica fans saying he's better than Witsel, whats your opinion?

Whether he's better than Witsel or not is subjective. They're both really good players playing similar but different positions.I was one of the Benfica fans who were terrified going into last season losing both Javi Garcia and Witsel without buying replacements and thinking "we're going to get overrun in the centre of the park". But I'll tell you, I have never heard any Benfica fan say we would've had a better game or we would've won that game if we had Witsel instead of Matic. Matic made Benfica fans forget Witsel almost instantly so that says enough I think.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Just to add my two cents to the Luiz argument, As Gary Neville said, He gets battered by the press and fans in England because he is a 'Brazillian' style centre half, Likes to play football and go forward. Similar to Thiago Silva, Dante and others.

The English National team have hardly set the world alight in the last 50 years, Luiz needs to control his temperament and keep his concentration.

I do believe midfield is the correct position for him, mind.

There is a reason why Silva was named in world 11 yesterday...Luiz doesn't even make top 10

[Korea 734]

Yes. Coentrao was really impressive during the season before his transfer, but didn't achieve the heights Matic did last season.

Nice... Coentrao was and is really good. Its too bad he went to the team with the best offensive lb in the world (at that time).....

I would totally do a coentrao for mata straight swap....

Whether he's better than Witsel or not is subjective. They're both really good players playing similar but different positions.I was one of the Benfica fans who were terrified going into last season losing both Javi Garcia and Witsel without buying replacements and thinking "we're going to get overrun in the centre of the park". But I'll tell you, I have never heard any Benfica fan say we would've had a better game or we would've won that game if we had Witsel instead of Matic. Matic made Benfica fans forget Witsel almost instantly so that says enough I think.

People on this board drool over Witsel, so if you Portuguese fans say Matic is better, Ill take your word over theirs..

On a side note, how do you think Rambo-Matic combo would do?

[José Mateus 46]

Whether he's better than Witsel or not is subjective. They're both really good players playing similar but different positions.I was one of the Benfica fans who were terrified going into last season losing both Javi Garcia and Witsel without buying replacements and thinking "we're going to get overrun in the centre of the park". But I'll tell you, I have never heard any Benfica fan say we would've had a better game or we would've won that game if we had Witsel instead of Matic. Matic made Benfica fans forget Witsel almost instantly so that says enough I think.

Matic + Perez >> Javi + Witsel

[Sheva. 5,373]

The only good "vs video" of him on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPMjGpH6zU0

Check the pass at 2:20.

[Korea 734]

Last season final, all I remember was Luiz being completely useless vs benfica.

Also, benfica being the better team, yet us winning...

[sutro 1,026]

So when does he have his medical @ spurs?

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Anyone here know Portuguese or that financial site that Portuguese clubs have to post details on before any deal? Would tell us exactly how much Matic costs, ending the debate once and for all.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Last season final, all I remember was Luiz being completely useless vs benfica.

Also, benfica being the better team, yet us winning...

It was like the Bayern game all over again.

Benfica had/have an impressive team tbf to them, their forwards always made good runs and decisions with the ball - just couldn't finish.

[Pizy 18,908]

Must be one loooong medical. Is there a long line at White Hart Lane?

[pachman40 357]

Matic for the reported 25M euros + two players can potentially be a fantastic value, but I'll reserve judgement until we find out who the two players are, whether they're on loan or permanent moves, and whether there's a buy-back on either of them. Until those factors are known, nobody can determine in good faith if it was a good or bad deal.

A couple of things to mention, and I'll try not to bore everyone with detail after detail about Benfica's side of this deal because that doesn't concern fans on a Chelsea forum, but I'd like to add some perspective to the discussion... Benfica's financial distress has been overstated here and in the British media. Yes, Benfica are a selling club, that is no secret, yes Benfica didn't qualify for the knockouts in the Champion's League, yes that means there is a shortfall to their revenue projections. Does that mean there is a crisis? No. Did the elimination mean that Benfica are more will to sell and would be less rigid in their negotiations? I think that's fair. But, Benfica have other players that have high transfer values and are desired in the current market so they didn't NEED to cash in on Matic right now. Bottom line is that the rumoured transfer value for Matic is a fair amount that is still fantastic business for Benfica, but I don't think they would've settled for that amount AND sold him in January if they weren't eliminated from the CL already.

The other thing that people here may consider keeping tabs on, is that Benfica already bought Matic's replacement last summer. Fejsa has the potential to make Benfica fans forget about Matic the way Mtaic made us forget about Witsel. That also made the decision to sell Matic a little easier.

There are a few other things I'd like to mention if I had more time, but in the end (depending on the circumstances of the two throw-in players) this looks like a win-win for both teams and what's wrong with that? Go Chelsea!!!!!!!!

[Waterfall 893]

The only good "vs video" of him on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPMjGpH6zU0

Check the pass at 2:20.

Isn't it the only "vs video" of him?

I wish someone could make one of his play against Porto. I watched the entire game, but a lot of times I wasn't sure who I was looking at cause my stream was LQ.

[pachman40 357]

Matic + Perez >> Javi + Witsel

Absolutely agree 100%

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Matic for the reported 25M euros + two players can potentially be a fantastic value, but I'll reserve judgement until we find out who the two players are, whether they're on loan or permanent moves, and whether there's a buy-back on either of them. Until those factors are known, nobody can determine in good faith if it was a good or bad deal.

A couple of things to mention, and I'll try not to bore everyone with detail after detail about Benfica's side of this deal because that doesn't concern fans on a Chelsea forum, but I'd like to add some perspective to the discussion... Benfica's financial distress has been overstated here and in the British media. Yes, Benfica are a selling club, that is no secret, yes Benfica didn't qualify for the knockouts in the Champion's League, yes that means there is a shortfall to their revenue projections. Does that mean there is a crisis? No. Did the elimination mean that Benfica are more will to sell and would be less rigid in their negotiations? I think that's fair. But, Benfica have other players that have high transfer values and are desired in the current market so they didn't NEED to cash in on Matic right now. Bottom line is that the rumoured transfer value for Matic is a fair amount that is still fantastic business for Benfica, but I don't think they would've settled for that amount AND sold him in January if they weren't eliminated from the CL already.

The other thing that people here may consider keeping tabs on, is that Benfica already bought Matic's replacement last summer. Fejsa has the potential to make Benfica fans forget about Matic the way Mtaic made us forget about Witsel. That also made the decision to sell Matic a little easier.

There are a few other things I'd like to mention if I had more time, but in the end (depending on the circumstances of the two throw-in players) this looks like a win-win for both teams and what's wrong with that? Go Chelsea!!!!!!!!

Do you know Portuguese or that financial site that Portuguese clubs have to post details on before any deal? Would tell us exactly how much Matic costs, ending the debate once and for all.

[SinineUltra 1,170]

Very fond of this transfer - what I remember about his times at Chelsea is that he didn't get much play time though when he did come on he was very confident. Would add some steel to our midfield. He seems like a Yaya Toure like player with a bit more aggressivness in his play.