Matic: How Benfica Changed My Career

Ahead of Manchester United’s Champions League clash with Benfica, midfield ace Nemanja Matic has revealed how his time in Lisbon with former Eagles coach Jorge Jesus helped him refine his game.

The Serbia international spent the better part of three seasons at Estadio da Luz from 2011 to 2014, in a period sandwiched between two spells at Chelsea.

During that stint in Lisbon, he became an important member of Jesus’ squad, and his three years at the club yielded 97 appearances in all competitions, one Player of the Year award, a league title and three domestic cup wins.

In an interview with MUTV, Matic spoke of how Jesus’ influence helped transform him from a forward-thinking playmaker, into the expert anchor-man he is today.

“When I first came to Benfica, the manager Jorge Jesus told me on my first day I would be playing as a no.6 or as a defensive midfielder,” Matic explained. “At the beginning, it was strange for me because I didn’t know I could play that position but, slowly, I trained with the team and the manager explained to me how to do it. And after a lot of hard work, now, I’m at Manchester United, so I must have done the job well!”

Matic, who has been an integral part of Jose Mourinho’s team this season, also admits his former club retains a special place in his heart, but it will not stop him giving his all for United on Wednesday.

“It’s a special club, a club that I love,” said Matic. “At Benfica, I learnt a lot about football and about the pressure of playing for a big club, because they are one of the best clubs in Europe.

“I will support them for the rest of my life and they will have a special place in my heart but, in the Champions League, I hope we can take points from them,” he smiled.

The Eagles have begun their Champions League campaign in forgettable fashion, with a 2-1 home defeat to CSKA Moscow, before a 5-0 thumping away at Basel, but the Serbian star still feels they are a dangerous side.

“I was surprised because Benfica is a team who’s used to winning games,” Matic stated. “But they are a big club and they have good players, I think everyone there is hard to play against.

“There are six or seven players still there that played with me, and they have a few younger guys who want to show their quality, but I cannot mention any stand-outs because, as a team, they are really good.”