An interview with on of the prolific midfielders in the premier league

Fresh from his goalscoring exploits midweek, Nemanja Matic sits down with the official Chelsea website to assess his role in a team which is undefeated in 16 matches so far this season. The tall Serbian has featured in each and every one of those games and so it’s no wonder we find him on jovial form at our Cobham training ground.

In the Premier League and in Europe Cesc Fabregas has been his ever-present partner in midfield, with the duo earning plenty of plaudits for their performances together. When asked what it is like playing alongside the Spaniard, a smile breaks out across Matic’s face. He can’t resist a joke.

‘He’s terrible,’ laughs Matic. ‘One of the worst I’ve ever played with!

‘Seriously though in every moment of the game he knows what he needs to do,’ he explains, now carefully considering his midfield accomplice’s attributes.

‘He’s a great player; he’s a player with a lot of experience having played at Arsenal and Barcelona. We have a good relationship on the pitch and it’s easy to play with him.

‘It’s very important to play a lot of games next to somebody, because as more and more time passes you get to know them better and better. We’ve improved together as a pair and I think that’s good for the team too because the midfield is such an important part of the pitch.’

The 26-year-old says he has also improved as an individual since his move to Stamford Bridge in January; something he puts down to the high-quality football the team has been playing this season.

At the heart of that outstanding attacking play has been Fabregas, who already has nine Premier League assists to his name. Jose Mourinho has regularly praised his decisive impact on matches, but the manager has been quick to highlight Matic’s important contributions alongside Fabregas too, noting in particular the speed with which he moves the ball and his ability to operate in the right spaces when we don’t have possession.

‘My job is to play defensive midfielder; going forward is his responsibility as well as the other players that play in front of us. I just try to do my job. If once or twice per game I can go forward I will do that but my main job is to keep the balance in the midfield and if we lose the ball then try and kill their game. Of course I also want to give Cesc and the other attacking players the ball when I have it.

‘No, it was Inzaghi-style that one. I said before my job is to play defensive midfielder, to do what the coach asks of me, but of course if I have the chance I will try to score.

‘In this moment I have three goals and I hope I don’t stop. I expect some more goals this season. I will be happy with 10; I have set myself the target of 10.’

Having already netted in Merseyside this season Matic might well be hoping to repeat the trick at Anfield today. However, if we are to return south with all three points it is likely to be more important he reproduces the domineering all-round midfield performance we witnessed from him at the same ground in April, at Man City in February and, more recently, at Old Trafford.

‘It’s always special when you play big games,’ he points out. ‘It’s different.

‘I cannot say every game is the same. A derby is a derby for example; it gives you a special motivation. I like to play in these kinds of games like everyone.

‘I’m really happy because we have another big game today. Liverpool are a good, strong team but we are ready to compete again.’

And who’ll be leading our challenge in the middle of our pitch, as the most recent Chelsea terrace chant goes? Matic.

By Rupert Cane