Nemanja Matic urges Manchester United to bring in experienced players

Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has urged the club’s hierarchy to pursue experienced players during this summer’s transfer window. The Red Devils ended the season trophy less after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup final defeat but Matic believes the club can challenge for Premier League and Champions League honours in the future.

He said: “I think we need some players with some experience to bring some more qualities to our team. After that, we can fight for the title and the Champions League also. I think that we have improved. As you know, United last year were sixth. The year before that, fifth. So we improve, we are second. The only team who is better than us this year is Man City. Obviously, they play amazing football. But we are second and we are in the Champions League next year which is the most important thing.”

United ended the Premier League with a 19-point deficit to champions Manchester City but their form against bigger clubs was impressive during the second half of the campaign. Jose Mourinho has often taken up a defensive approach against the top-six clubs but towards the backend of the season, the Red Devils won five of their seven matches against the elite sides.

Nevertheless, the club’s faithful remain disappointment with the lack of attacking intensity and this is something which Mourinho could seek to rectify during the summer. The trailing age of leading full-backs Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young has restricted their overlapping runs to some extent and reports have suggested that the club could see replacements in the positions.

Meanwhile, the club are said to be hunt for a right-sided winger with the likes of Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial failing to impress in the position. Martial, in particular, has looked lost since the January arrival of Sanchez and reports suggest that the club could offload the Frenchman to bring in an experienced attacker.