Chelsea legend thinks club have strengthened rival’s Premier League chances
Britain Soccer Football - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League - Stamford Bridge - 26/12/16 Bournemouth's Joshua King in action with Chelsea's Nemanja Matic Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Ex Chelsea star Ray Wilkins says he can’t understand why the Blues allowed Nemanja Matic to be sold to one of their biggest rivals for the Premier League title.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Blues midfielder feels the £40m sale of the Serbian to Manchester United has strengthened the Red Devils’ midfield:
“I just could not see why we would let Nemanja go there. He’s been outstanding for us and you’ve seen in the short period that he’s been there, how he’s allowed [Paul] Pogba to basically go and do what he wants.”
Manager Antonio Conte described Matic as a “top player” and a “great loss” in an interview back in early August suggesting that the Italian was not completely in agreement with the Serbian’s sale to United either.
It was suggested that the 29 year old was keen to join up once again with his old manager Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, and it is hoped his replacement, Tiemoue Bakayoko, who is both younger and more dynamic, will be a sufficient replacement for Matic. If his display against Tottenham a few weeks ago is anything to go by, Chelsea fans may be forgiven for thinking that they won’t miss the Serbian that much.