Nemanja Matic’s first appearance of the season may come in an unexpected position.
Apparently, Matic could well be deployed in defence for Manchester United’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night.
Manchester Evening News reports that United manager Jose Mourinho intends to switch up tactics for the visit of Spurs, who have won both of their games so far this term.
It’s been suggested that first-choice central defender Eric Bailly will miss the game and Mourinho plans to send a message to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward by selecting a back three which will see Matic join Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling.
Matic missed the start of the season due to injury and while he possesses all the physical attributes of a centre-half, it is not his favoured position by any means.
Mourinho’s desire to add a big-name centre-half to his squad over the summer has been well documented and the decision to move Matic to the back will not be lost on Woodward, whose relationship with Mourinho is said to be deteriorating.
After it became clear that he wouldn’t be getting the centre-back he asked for, Mourinho reportedly identified Matic as a possible defensive option over the summer.
United legend Gary Neville predicted that the Red Devils would change strategies and move to a back three after a shocking defensive performance against Brighton last week.
“I think it will force Manchester United and Jose Mourinho to go three at the back. I think, with the centre-backs he’s got, he will resort to that,” Neville said on his podcast.
“When I look at the centre-back partnerships that he had at Chelsea, they had power and strength in his teams. He hasn’t got that here yet.
“He is in his third season and I think he will feel extremely disappointed that he wasn’t supported in the transfer market. You can’t leave a house three-quarters built. You have to finish it and complete the build. Then you can think about selling it or renting it because nobody is going to pick it up off you half-built.”
Matic, Bailly and Lindelof with Luke Shaw and Ashley Young as wing-backs.
