Matic: Win A Confidence Booster

Manchester United's combative midfielder Nemanja Matic insists the 2-0 win over Huddersfield was vital in order to boost the Reds' confidence ahead of the tough trip to Sevilla on Wednesday in the Champions League.

Two Romelu Lukaku goals secured safe progression into the last eight of the Emirates FA Cup on a night when VAR hit the headlines again as Juan Mata's first-half strike was ruled out for offside after a long delay.

Despite the confusion with VAR, Matic declared the result is a much-needed boost to the Reds' morale with a tough test at Sevilla next up for Jose Mourinho's men on Wednesday.

"It was important to get the win today for our confidence," Matic told reporters, following the win over Huddersfield.

"We have the Champions League now against against a very good side. It was important for us and we have to recover well because this game was very hard for us and we have to give our best, and play good football, if we are going to win [in midweek]."

Lukaku bagged his 20th and 21st goals in the win over the Terriers and Matic admits the two goals will also lift his colleague ahead of a key run of fixtures with a crunch clash with Chelsea also on the horizon.

"He is our first striker and he is very important to us," continued Matic. "It’s very important for his confidence that he is scoring goals. He is a great striker, very strong and he is still young and I am sure he will be important for us until the end of the season.

"I am happy we have him in the team and, today, he scored two goals which is what the striker is there to do and he did exactly that."

Juan Mata thought he had doubled United's lead on the stroke of half-time, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened and, after a long delay, disallowed the goal.

Matic insists he is in favour of VAR, but feels the process must be quickened up as injuries can occur when the body cools down during the delay.

"We saw the goal and we are not sure it was offside but the referee made a decision and they saw it on TV and we are happy that we scored again and that’s it," he said.

"We just waited for the referee’s decision. We knew that he waited for the people to see it on TV, to analyse it, but it was a little bit strange because you have to wait two minutes to see what happened, but it’s okay. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not.

"I like it [VAR]. I think it will be better for football, they just have to do it a little bit quicker because we waited so long for the decision. Two minutes is a long time on the pitch but I think, overall, it will be good for football. It’s normal that referees make mistakes every game and they can refer it to TV, but it needs to be quicker. They have to do it in 30 seconds because, after two minutes, we are cold and this is the only problem. Other than that, I like it."

As well as the impressive attacking display, the Reds kept our 22nd clean sheet of the season with Matic playing a crucial role in many of those and he is delighted with that side of the Reds' game.

"I am happy because that is what I am there for, he concluded. "It’s very difficult to get a clean sheet, especially against Premier League teams, as every side has opportunities to score. There are some set-pieces where you have to be 100 per cent concentrated, but I am happy we have another clean sheet."