Nemanja Matic, a former Premier League star, has gone on an explosive tirade against Serbian soccer. The head of the soccer association, as well as the two most prominent teams in the nation, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/red-star-belgrade-denounce-racist-chants-at-ibrahimovic-20210219-CMS-326477.html">Red Star Belgrade</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/red-star-belgrade-win-serbian-derby-rival-partizan-fans-set-stadium-on-fire-video-20131102-CMS-87891.html">Partizan Belgrade</a>, have also been targeted by his criticism.



“Serbian football is sick, infected with viruses called Red Star and Partizan! What’s important is that there is a cure…”, the ex-Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder <a href="https://twitter.com/NemanjaMatic/status/1732756972091424820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1732756972091424820%7Ctwgr%5E576c1f7683bf46427c3d52d7596a49c625acf17c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.b92.net%2Fsport%2Ffudbal%2Fvesti.php%3Fyyyy%3D2023mm%3D12dd%3D07nav_id%3D2446462" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said on the X social network</a>.



For the Balkan nation’s sports, Matic’s remarks couldn’t have come at a more pivotal moment. Concurrently, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/nemanja-vidic-has-announced-his-retirement-20160129-CMS-163376.html">Nemanja Vidic</a>, a past <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/serbia-national-team-tv-schedule/">Football Association of Serbia (FSS)</a> presidential candidate, has brought attention to the issues he perceives. During the FSS presidential elections, it was Matic who backed his former national team teammate, Vidic.



<h2>What did Nemanja Matic previously say about FFS?</h2>



The administration of Serbian soccer has been the target of Matic’s criticisms before. Not long ago, he spoke about the Eagles’ youth players on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao2l_tAo6BY&amp;ab_channel=YUPlanet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YU Planet YouTube channel</a> and warned them against signing with Red Star and Partizan.



Both teams are among the finest in the nation, and the now 35-year-old played for both when he was a youngster. Before he got to Kolubara, everyone in the Serbian capital thought he was just a young, inexperienced player.



If he could go back in time and offer his younger self any piece of advice, the Rennes player would tell himself to steer clear of the dramas at Zvezda and Partizan.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="672" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231209_WST_476146_imago1025142127h-1200x672.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=672" alt="" class="wp-image-476207" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1025142127h-1200x672.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1025142127h-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1025142127h-768x430.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1025142127h-1536x860.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1025142127h-2048x1147.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Whilst matches between Red Star and Partizan make for impressive spectacles, the two clubs are accused of hindering Serbian football</figcaption></figure>



“Don’t go to Red Star and Partizan! I think I wasted my time there and they didn’t teach me anything. Everything they taught us there was wrong. When I went to a more serious level, they taught me everything about counterattack. Then I sat down and thought if it was possible…



“A lot of parents make mistakes with that. Red Star and Partizan scouts travel around Serbia and look for talents, which is normal. It’s hard to say ‘no’ when Red Star and Partizan call. But I think that children leave too early and that they should stay in smaller environments because there are good coaches who can develop them. They will gain something when they go to the biggest clubs, but they will also lose a lot.



“Maybe ‘banished’ is a bit of a harsh word, but they do it. Maybe I was behind my generation physically. Red Star judged that I was not for them and they chased me away. I had already moved from the village to the city and had to find another club. Partizan invited me to transfer to them, I was there for a year and a half, and then they kicked me out”, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0USSbvMQ-0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=170748a3-7c35-49d3-8f48-925208c39d29" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matic added</a>.



<h2>How has Matic fared since then?</h2>



Nevertheless, despite his misfortune with those two teams, Matic managed to craft a fantastic career for himself in a circuitous fashion. He can boast of having donned the Benfica, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">Manchester United</a>, and Roma jerseys, among others.



He joined the French Ligue 1 club Rennes in the summer of 2023. Despite his stellar career, he only had one appearance in a major tournament for his country during that period, and that was at the 2018 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a> in Russia.



Photo credits: IMAGO / PanoramiC : IMAGO / Aleksandar Djorovic.

Matic warns against Serbian 'viruses' Red Star and Partizan

Nemanja Matic has gone on an explosive tirade against Serbian soccer in his homeland, citing Red Star and Partizan

With Erik ten Hag under increasing scrutiny, Manchester United have once again been the center of attention this week.



Preparing for Wednesday’s match against Chelsea, United suffered their tenth loss of the season against Newcastle due to a lackluster performance. There were rumors that some United players had lost trust in the Dutchman due to the frustrating season.



Meanwhile, after rumors circulated on Tuesday that certain <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/manchester-united/">Manchester United</a> players are becoming disillusioned with the manager, Erik ten Hag emphasized that he is fully supported by his players.



He told the press: “I always listen to my players, and I always give them opportunities to tell, if the players have a different opinion of course I will listen. But they haven’t told me – or maybe one or two. But it is about in general: the majority, they want to play like this – proactive, dynamic, brave, that is what they want.



“You can see the players are behind it because of the performances against Everton and Galatasaray. Do you think we can make the goals we did against Everton if the players don’t embrace it? I am sure [the players are behind me].”



<h2>How did Nemanja Matic fare at United?</h2>



United said they didn’t want to allow responding to bad headlines, therefore the club decided to e<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/united-bans-espn-sky-and-the-mirror-from-press-conferences-20231205-WST-474871.html">xclude four media outlets from Tuesday’s news conference</a>. However, it might be upended by yet another narrative that emerges from one of their former players.



After reflecting on his time at United, Nemanja Matic has spoken out about the tardiness problem, naming Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho as specific individuals. Under Jose Mourinho’s leadership in 2017, United signed Matic for <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.co.in/nemanja-matic/transfers/spieler/74683" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$50 million</a> from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231207_WST_475363_Pogba-Matic-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-475540" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Pogba-Matic-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Pogba-Matic-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Pogba-Matic-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Pogba-Matic.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Nemanja Matic was a reliable defensive midfielder who often paired up with Paul Pogba at United.</figcaption></figure>



Currently playing for Rennes, the midfielder spent five years in Manchester. In total, he made 128 appearances in the Premier League for the Red Devils. Matic sat down for an interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao2l_tAo6BY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YU Planet</a>. There, he reflected on the key changes between Chelsea and Manchester United.



In an attempt to improve conduct both on and off the field, Matic said that he was coerced into joining an “internal disciplinary committee” and instituted a punishment system. As examples of famous players who lacked composure, he singled out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/pogba-faces-four-year-ban-after-failing-second-drug-test-20231006-WST-460799.html">Pogba</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/sir-jim-ratcliffe-mulls-january-departure-for-united-attacking-trio-20231111-WST-469334.html">Sancho</a>.



<h2>What did he say about Sancho and Pogba during his time at United?</h2>



This confession from the 35-year-old comes as Sancho is out of United’s senior team. Manager Erik ten Hag refuses to include Sancho in any first-team squad. The Dutch manager wants an apology for what he believes was Sancho’s false accusation on social media. Matic and Pogba both departed United. The Frenchman rejoined Juventus. He has not been fortunate with injuries, and now he faces a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/pogba-faces-four-year-ban-after-failing-second-drug-test-20231006-WST-460799.html">lengthy ban for doping</a>.



“At Chelsea, players acted professionally. They were punctual and were never late for training. But at United it happened almost every day,” the Serbian revealed.



“Among the players who would always be late were Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho, and a couple of other players. The rest of us who were always on time were angry, so we decided to form a kind of an internal disciplinary committee with me serving as its president.



“I put a sheet of paper up on the wall where I documented the names of individuals arriving late. During one particular season, we collected around £75,000 [$94,000] in fines. We had planned to use the money to throw a party in London, but we didn’t due to the Covid outbreak.”



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Ex-Utd star names two tardy players, questions club competence

Matic has spoken out about his time at United, illuminating the problem of tardiness among players like Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Nemanja Matic"

Leagues: Ligue Un

Matic warns against Serbian 'viruses' Red Star and Partizan

Chelsea

Ex-Utd star names two tardy players, questions club competence