When I arrived at Benfica I'd been playing like a No. 10 in the team, but the first thing the coach did was tell me: 'You are going to be a defensive midfielder here.'

Nemanja Matic

Categorized in : You Me Like Team

The Premier League is not easy for young players because it is very hard, very tough. Most of the players are very tall.

tall hard tough easy

When you leave a big club and go on loan to a small club in Holland it is not easy. But I am a footballer and I have to be professional about my job.

i-am job you easy

For a young player, the most important thing is to play.

important-thing important young play

For me, I want to improve, to play good football in a good league; the money is not the most important thing.

good me money football

I think throughout your whole career a player can improve.

i-think your career think

I just have to improve here at Chelsea. I played in Portugal but here it is a higher level so I'm sure I can improve a lot and I will work hard every day.

every-day work-hard day work

Defensive midfielder is my position and I have to be focused on that role.

role defensive focused position

Of course, I know that I have some qualities. I think I can run a lot, that I'm physically well but if I have other qualities I will leave other people to speak about me.

think me speak people

To play at Old Trafford in a Manchester shirt I think is something special.

shirt think special play

I'd first come to Chelsea from Kosice and, for me, that was a dream. It's not easy making that move. I was maybe the first player to come from Slovakia to a club like Chelsea, who normally buy players from Holland, Spain, Italy, Portugal.

like me easy dream

My wife and son cried when we left Portugal, but I had to move.

portugal left wife son

When I come home, I always look in the mirror and I want to see where I could do better, where I can improve.

mirror better look home

Manchester is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I'm very happy because I am part of this great club, this great group.

i-am great happy world

I recognise fully why people wear poppies, I totally respect everyone's right to do so and I have total sympathy for anyone who has lost loved ones due to conflict.

loved respect sympathy people

As I said, when I played at Chelsea I give always my best to help the team but now Manchester United is my club and I will try to win there.

will best win team

I'm happy to be working with Mourinho.

When you don't have results it is very difficult for players to have that high confidence.

high you confidence difficult

I think derbies are really special because it's two local teams playing.

playing think special two

The Manchester derby, for our supporters, is the most important game in the season. Always, a few days before the game, the people create that atmosphere that is special to them.

game important special people

When you finish the season with a trophy it's different.

trophy finish you different