Manchester United legend Denis Irwin has stressed the importance of having Nemanja Matic in the team, saying that it has allowed the Red Devils to be more forward thinking this season.
Jose Mourinho signed the Serbian midfielder from his former club Chelsea during the summer transfer window and the 29-year-old has made a great start to life at Old Trafford.
He has quickly turned into one of the first names on Mourinho’s team-sheet and his assured performances in the middle of the park have been a feature of Manchester United’s impressive start to the season.
Irwin admits Matic has made a huge difference to Manchester United since his arrival as it has allowed the side to be more attacking as the Serbian provides the shield required to protect the back four in the middle of the park.
And he thinks in turn the defensive midfielder has made Manchester United more forward thinking and has been a great addition to the squad in the summer.
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Irwin said on MUTV’s Paddy Crerand Show: “Matic has been a huge signing.
“He enables us to play us an extra forward.
"We have played a lot games with just two in midfield and even the guy playing next to him, [Marouane] Fellaini, he is breaking from midfield.
“With him holding and the pace we have got at the back, I just think it allows us extra forwards, extra momentum up top, more options to score and that is in essence how good a player Matic is.
“He’s been a huge signing for us.”
With games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur this month, Manchester United will be hoping to see Matic return from the international break unscathed and fit to feature in the big fixtures.
