How will Manchester United line up with Nemanja Matic?
With the arrival of Nemanja Matic, Manchester United’s lineup will change in 2017-18. How will Jose Mourinho set up his side?
Nemanja Matic is headed to Manchester United from Chelsea on a three-year contract. The question now is how the Red Devils will lineup with Matic, previously played under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, where they won the Premier League title together in 2014-15.
The current squad appears best-suited to a 4-3-3 formation, with Matic playing in the middle of Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera. Matic isn’t the most eye-catching player but he fills an obvious need for United, who sold Morgan Schneiderlin last season.
Watch EPL for FREE on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!
The only other options in the squad to play that role are Michael Carrick, who’s 36 and more of a playmaker than a ball-winner anyway, and Marouane Fellaini, who’s biggest value these days is probably as a late-game target man when Mourinho needs to chase a result.
But the midfield trio of Pogba, Herrera and Matic looks excellent on paper, with a little bit of everything. Matic’s arrival will also give Pogba a little freedom to get forward, while Herrera will be more use dictating tempo further up the pitch when he doesn’t have so many defensive responsibilities.
With the midfield set, Mourinho can start thinking about the rest of his team. David de Gea will start in goal, while Eric Bailly and new signing Victor Lindelof are expected to start in central defense. Antonio Valencia will be the first-choice right-back, while left-back remains something of a question mark.
Next: Best soccer rivalries of all time
Marcos Rojo started there at times last season, while Luke Shaw would be a perfect fit if he can mend his relationship with Mourinho. The club are also in talks with Paris Saint-Germain about Serge Aurier, who would presumably be a started up front.
Perhaps the biggest question concerns the forward line. Romelu Lukaku is more or less guaranteed to start up front, but the two wide position could be filled by any two of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and whoever else the Red Devils by this summer.
PLAY FANDUEL: New users win first contest or get credited up to $120!
If Mourinho wants to get three of those in the starting lineup, he might consider shifting to a 4-2-3-1, with Pogba next to Matic at the base of midfield and two more traditional wide players either side of Mkhitaryan/Mata.
Whatever lineup he settles on, Mourinho now has a lot more freedom with the signing of Matic, exactly the sort of dominant defensive midfielder around hwich he likes to build his teams.