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Nemanja Matic has impressed since re-joining Chelsea. EMPICS Sport

Mourinho hails 'best player' Matic

The Chelsea boss says the 26-year-old midfielder is a “giant” for his side and hails the way in which he adapted to his second spell at Stamford Bridge.

JOSE MOURINHO SAYS Nemanja Matic has been a “giant” since returning to Chelsea last January.

The 26-year-old rejoined the Blues from Benfica in January and has been an almost ever-present for the west Londoners and picked up the man-of-the-match award in the Premier League leader’s 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.

Mourinho was effusive in his praise for the Serb’s efforts in the past 10 months, telling reporters: “He is the best player.

“He was signed in the most difficult market. Which is for the players who are coming in mid-season, so the last half of the season was for him to improve, not adaptation, as he was a Chelsea player before, but to improve.

“At this moment he is a giant, not for his size but for the way he plays. The man is a giant.”

Mourinho also hailed the mentality of his side, likening them to the championship-winning teams he has coached around Europe and says they remind him of the Chelsea outfit he forged in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

He added: “I was champion in different countries, with different clubs. And there are points which are always present.

“I had it in Inter, Porto and Madrid and I have it here. I had it here in my first spell and I have it now, and this is something that I always have, people who are willing to sacrifice for the team, people who are willing to push, push to help, so I am so pleased with that.”

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    Mute Johnny Fitz
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    Nov 11th 2014, 10:58 AM

    Could not agree more with him. As amazing as Hazard, Costa, Fabregas are it’s Matic that makes Chelsea tick. Seriously even look at John Terry, a couple of seasons back he was being regularly exposed and looked like he was finished at the top level, Matic step in front of him and Terry is a defensive rock again. Move him to Arsenal, Man U or Liverpool and see how their defences would tighten and their fortunes would improve. The kind of money being shelled out for world class attacking talent is nuts, but what most teams are missing now are true defensive linchpins and there are so few truely top class players (CB’s and DM’s) in the game at the moment that they should be like golddust. How many Matic’s or Hummel’s could LVG have gotten with the money he spent this summer…

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    Mute Andrew Hickey
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    Nov 11th 2014, 7:30 PM

    Absolutely. Yesterday’s news with Oscar tied to a contact… Meh. Tie Matic down, I’d be well pleased.

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    Mute Luke McDermott
    Favourite Luke McDermott
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    Nov 11th 2014, 4:08 PM

    Love Matic. Great player.

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