Nemanja Matic believes Manchester United must make major signings this summer if they are to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League next season.
United’s 1-0 defeat by Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup final meant they ended the campaign without a trophy. United also finished as runners-up in the Premier League, a record 19 points behind Manchester City. While second is their highest placing since claiming the title five years ago, there was further disappointment in the Champions League, with United knocked out in the last-16 stage by Sevilla.
Matic is clear that United have to strengthen. “We need some players with experience to bring more qualities to our team,” the midfielder said. “After that, we can fight for the title and the Champions League also.”
Matic also accepts the lack of silverware will put more pressure on United next season. “This is football,” he said. “When you don’t win one year the next year is always more pressure. When you play for Manchester United this is normal and we have to accept and deal with that.
“We have improved. Last year United were sixth. The year before, fifth. So we improve, we are second. The only team who is better than us is Man City. They play amazing football. But we are second and in the Champions League next year, which is the most important thing.
“When you win a trophy it’s different and you feel better but the most important thing is that we can look in the mirror and know we gave our best [against Chelsea]. The team was sad after the game – we know we deserved more – but this is football. It is a final, everything can happen, so we have to be focused on the next challenge.”
Chelsea’s winner came via an Eden Hazard penalty that he won after Phil Jones was caught out of position and fouled the Belgian. “Everyone can make a mistake,” said Matic. “Sometimes I make mistakes, but this is football.
“He worked for sure to do the best for the team – he always fights for the team. I can’t blame him because he gives 100%. He needs to forget and be focused on the next challenge.
“Chelsea have some players that can punish every mistake like Hazard did so we have to accept, see where we can improve, and next year to try and win some trophies.
“We played 90 minutes of good football. It was better in the second half but in the first we controlled the game but conceded a goal from one mistake.”
José Mourinho did not send his players away with a message to contemplate during their break from club football – “We didn’t speak with him,” said Matic – and the manager is now on holiday, conscious that United’s prospects of closing the gap to City and going into the Champions League closing stages next year depend on the club’s business in the transfer window.
Regarding the major signings Matic points to, Mourinho wants a right-back and a left-back to replace Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, who are both converted wingers. Juventus’s Alex Sandro is thought to have overtaken Tottenham’s Danny Rose as Mourinho’s first choice for left-back and he wants an equally dynamic right-back to replace Valencia.
The future of Anthony Martial remains in doubt, as his 13-minute cameo as a replacement against Chelsea underlined, so the manager is also targeting a new attacker. Ajax’s Justin Kluivert is one potential replacement. While 10 goals in 30 league games for a 19-year-old wide-forward is impressive, he lacks the experience Matic cites.
Michael Carrick’s retirement – he is now a member of Mourinho’s coaching staff – and Marouane Fellaini’s potential departure will leave Mourinho with only Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba and Matic as frontline midfielders. Scott McTominay emerged this year but is 21 and has only 25 first-team appearances. Given the manager’s mistrust of Pogba, he may have to sign at least one midfielder.
Mourinho would like to strengthen at centre-back, too – possibly freeing up a berth by selling Chris Smalling – but there are only so many high-grade signings possible in the window.
Next season promises to be the defining one for Mourniho. As Young said: “We have to come back stronger – in the league, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Champions League. We want to be fighting on all fronts.”
