Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed in an interview with Sky Sports News that he was surprised his former side Chelsea allowed Nemanja Matic to be sold.
Following Phil Neville’s comments about the player during the week this was a big topic of duscussion in the last few days. The former Everton defender couldn’t understand why Chelsea would let such an important and high quality player leave the club. He went as far as to say whoever sold the midfielder should have been sacked.
Mourinho stated that he too was surprised to be given the opportunity to sign the Serbian international.
“I was surprised when [Matic’s] agent called me to say ‘do you want him?’
“I was surprised, but he’s an agent I know well. Normally he’s very direct and objective, he doesn’t waste time, he doesn’t try to get people to be interested in his players to improve their situation at their club.
“Normally he’s very straightforward, so when he told me ‘you can have him if you want’, of course I want.”
The now United midfielder joined from Chelsea in July in a deal said to be worth £40 million. He has been a vital member of Mourinho’s side thus far having played every minute of the Premier League season.
The match at Stamford Bridge on Sunday is a huge game in the context of the league table as second placed United travel to fourth placed Chelsea.
Mourinho has stated that his former side are title contenders this year and that now there are a cluster of teams challenging for top spot.
“Chelsea are the champions and one of the top teams in the country and I consider them and they consider themselves too, a big contender for the title.
“I think six (teams are in the race) because Everton, in spite of their huge investment, didn’t manage to follow the group.
“I think in the table now you can already feel the four or five are there. If Liverpool are a couple of points behind I’m pretty sure in a couple of weeks they’ll be close to us too.”
Conor Daly, Pundit Arena
Read More About: Chelsea, jose mourinho, Manchester United, nemanja matic, Premier League, stamford bridge
