Another Daily Mirror contract renewal special comes our way tonight, as the tabloid's reporting that Chelsea are set to reward Nemanja Matić with a new deal this summer following a key role in Antonio Conte's first season in charge.
Chelsea plan new OTTO contract despite also eyeing summer reinforcements at his position #CFC https://t.co/yiQw7uvSZd pic.twitter.com/9fC35TqTiR
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) March 7, 2017
While Cesc Fàbregas has been favored over Matić in the last three games, over the balance of the season, the big Spiderbeast has had a significant edge in minutes over Mr. Magic Hat. Incidentally, both Matić and Fàbregas's contracts are expiring in two years. There's been no talk (yet) of a renewal for the latter.
Matić was briefly rumored to be in line for a new contract last year as well (by the Express), but by the end of that terrible season, he looked closer to leaving than signing a new deal. As the story goes, Antonio Conte made it one his first priorities to convince the 28-year-old to stay. Those plans, like most of Antonio's plans so far, have been well rewarded. And now apparently Matić himself is set to be rewarded as well.
Great!
Until then, it's all hands to the pump to win the league.
"Some people are saying it’s finished because they want us to slip up, and this is normal. It’s football. But it’s better to be first, eight or 10 points clear, than be second with 10 points less. We can decide our future. If we continue to win games we will be champions, it’s as simple as that."
"You need to have competition. Of course when you train with players of the quality we have you improve. That’s natural. And when you have to fight for your position every day in training you work hard. Spirit is the most important thing. If you don’t have that you cannot be champions. You need to have that spirit in the dressing room."
-Nemanja Matic; Source: Chelsea FC