Nemanja Matic has focused an excavation on Manchester United and claimed that winning was not a priority during his time at Old Trafford.
Matic, 36, is currently sticking his trade for Lyon and will rise against his former club on Thursday evening in the first stage of their quarter-final collision of the Europa League.
The Serbian midfielder played 189 times for the Red Devils between 2017 and 2022 after participating in Chelsea for £ 40 million.
Upon his arrival of Stamford Bridge – where he had won two Premier League titles and the FA Cup and EFL Cup – Matic was seen as an explanation that signed when he was reunited with Mourinho.
Despite the reaching of the last phases of different cups, including losing the Europa League final on penalties to Villarreal in 2021, Matic did not succeed in winning in a trophy under Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
The 36-year-old left for Roma on a free transfer in 2022 without achieving the desired success, but was largely seen as a solid and reliable option for the Red Devils.
And speaking to athletics, Matic is open on the contrast between his time in Chelsea and United – and claimed that he did not feel that the environment in Old Trafford was aimed at achieving success.
“The difference I felt after Chelsea was, in Chelsea, everything about the result and winning trophies,” he said. “That was the Spirit in the entire club, even from the man who cuts the grass.
'(Chelsea owner) Roman Abramovich would only ask us about results. At United it was more commercial. I started to think that after a few months in the club.
'I understand that our salary must be paid, but I felt that the results were not the focus as it was at Chelsea. I may have done two commercial jobs in Chelsea, at United it was much more. '
United finished second, sixth, third, second and sixth in the full five seasons of Matic, but never passed the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
The enchantment of Matic at Old Trafford also coincided with the unpopular period of Ed Woodward's term of office in the club as CEO.
While Woodward was said to have the triple value of United during his decade long enchantment between 2012 and 2022, fans often criticized his decisions about the recruitment of players.
He was also accused of prioritizing the commercial performance of the club above success on the field, while he was very much examined for his role in the fateful European Super League project.
And Matic further outlined how its determination to win trophies at United was hampered by the circumstances.
“I arrived in United with the anger to win trophies as I had in Chelsea, but step by step I started to feel that trophies were not the focus,” he added. “Maybe I am not right, but that was my feeling inside.”
In the meantime, Matic has played for Lyon 31 times this season and will probably start against the Red Devils on Thursday evening.
The first stage takes place in the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, before the return bone comes to Old Trafford next week.
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