Nemanja Matic turned in a hugely impressive performance in a Manchester United shirt as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup – but it is a performance that will hurt Chelsea fans and their manager Antonio Conte.
Matic played in the defensive midfield position he had played so superbly for Chelsea and instantly made United look a more effective and dynamic unit, albeit a class below their illustrious Spanish opponents.
But Chelsea fans are left wondering why their club allowed such a high quality player to leave – not just to a domestic title challenging opponent, but without a replacement ready – or seemingly even lined up to arrive.
In an interview to Sky Sports News, boss Antonio Conte has revealed he was also unhappy to see the move sanctioned and Matic leave for Old Trafford : “Matic knows very well what I think about him,’ Conte told Sky Sports. ‘The importance for me about this player, as I repeat he’s a really real good player, he’s a really strong player, very important for our team.
‘But sometimes I think you must accept this crazy transfer market. Sometimes you must accept different decisions.
‘But I repeat – for sure this a gross loss, a great loss for us”
Only Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Matic, which will not exactly set the Stamford Bridge faithful’s pulses racing. Should anything happen to N’golo Kante, you truly fear the decision to sell Matic will come back to haunt Chelsea in the worst way possible.
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