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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
As quoted by Sky Sports, Nemanja Matic has insisted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must “bear the responsibility” if Manchester United don’t compete the Premier League this season.
What did he say?
The Red Devils endured a difficult campaign last season as they finished in sixth in the Premier League, and haven’t won the competition since Sir Alex Ferguson’s final year in charge.
Despite this, Matic has revealed Solskjaer must look to contend for the title and it would be his responsibility were they to fail to do so.
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He said: “The coach must opt for the team that will fight for the title and if he does not win, he bears the responsibility. I have been in football for a long time, I have played almost all the games for all the clubs in the last 10 years. In order for me to play, one had to sit on the bench and accept that fact, and so do I now.”
An unnecessary statement
Did Matic really have to come out and say this? What exactly did he stand to gain from doing so? The Serbia international has essentially thrown down the gauntlet to Solskjaer in setting United a wholly unrealistic target for the season. Manchester City and Liverpool completely ran away with it last year, and any side, let alone the Red Devils, will struggle to make up the ground in just one campaign.
Matic’s words seem to have come from a place of bitterness. The 31-year-old has only played 22 minutes this season, and has seen both Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay solidify their places in the Red Devils’ midfield.
The former Chelsea star was also the subject of transfer speculation from elsewhere, so perhaps the comments were borne out of anger and frustration. Make no mistake about it however, the veteran midfielder has done himself, his manager and his teammates absolutely no favours by opening his mouth.
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