Nemanja Matic is relishing the prospect of lining up against a team coached by Manchester United legend Roy Keane, revealing that he is a longtime admirer of the former Red Devils captain.
Matic, playing for Serbia, will face the Republic of Ireland assistant manager in Dublin this evening, as the two play in a crucial top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying game. The Serbian international, who now occupies Keane’s old defensive midfielder role at Old Trafford, has revealed that he has based his game on that of the former United captain.
“Everybody knows that Roy Keane is a legend of Manchester United – he was a very important player for a long time,” Matic told reporters ahead of the game at Aviva Stadium.
“When I was young and started to follow football, he was at his best at Manchester and was one of the best midfielders in the league. I tried to take something from lots of players to improve myself and of course Roy Keane was one of those players.
“He’s a legend in Manchester and I’ll be happy to see him and have a chat. I’m happy that I play at the same club that he played.”
Serbia are currently top of the table of the Group D qualifying round and a win against Ireland will ensure a place in next summer’s World Cup in Russia. Matic has won 33 international caps for Serbia, scoring one goal, and is looking forward to competing in the tournament.
He added: “It is a dream for me to play at the World Cup with Serbia. If that happens, I will be very happy. I am very focused to do my job for the national team against Ireland.”
Matic’s £40m move to Old Trafford to reunite with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been heralded as one of this summer’s best signings, the 29-year-old already impressing in his opening games with the Red Devils. Matic’s role as a defensive midfielder brings stability to Mourinho’s side – something he was lacking in last year – and though Lukaku may be attracting the headlines with his goals, it is Matic who has proven a force at maintaining solid cohesion in the middle of the park.
The 29-year-old, however, is quick to downplay suggestions he is his side’s signing of the summer – so much so that questions have been asked to Antonio Conte on his decision to sell to a direct rival.
“We will see. It is too early to say that because we have just played three games. It is true that we have started well with three games, nine points without conceding a goal, so I am happy because of that,” said the midfielder.
“But the season is very long and there are many games. We will see at the end of May where we are.
“If I win the Premier League with Manchester, that would be something great in my life. But I repeat again, it’s still a long way to go.
“What I can say is that I am happy that I am part of such a big club like Manchester United.”
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