Pranav Nair
Nemanja Matic keen to win his first trophy with Manchester United
According to the club’s official site, Manchester United star Nemanja Matic is increasingly desperate to win his first major honour with the club.
The Serbian was signed from Chelsea in 2017 and has so far gone on to make 153 appearances for United. During this time he has scored four goals and made seven assists. (h/t Transfermarkt)
At 32, Matic is no more a first-team regular for United. However, his experience is invaluable and was made use of to calm heads down in the second half against Roma yesterday night.
Having successfully booked a place for themselves in the Europa League final, Matic is keen to go all the way. After all, for all his commitment, the Red Devils have not won any trophies since he joined the club.
“I’m very desperate to finally have a trophy with Manchester United.”
Matic admits that he did not imagine he would have had to wait this long to have a crack at a major honour. While it does showcase our decline, it ironically indicates that we are once again on the rise as a footballing powerhouse.
“I didn’t expect that I would have to wait for that long but now we have an opportunity to win one. I hope at the end of that game we will be happy and I hope I will finally touch a trophy.”
Winning is all that matters
United go into the final against Villarreal as favourites. However, Matic is not taking anything for granted. He is wary of the Spanish side and believes the Red Devils will have to be at their best to win the day.
“We know we can expect a very hard game, Villarreal is a great team with a great manager, so we have to be focused from the first until the last minute and we have to show personality and character in that game.”
It will also be United’s first final under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian had fallen at the semi-final stages four times in the last two years. Having finally booked a seat for themselves at the showpiece event, Matic is keen to make it count.
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In Unai Emery, Villarreal have a manager who has won the Europa League thrice with Sevilla. He also led Arsenal to the final in 2019. He will prove to be a masterful opponent.
Matic was a part of the Benfica side that lost in 2013 to Chelsea in the final. He will hope it is second time lucky as he chases his first major trophy in Red.
