Nemanja Matić insists he’s not a goal machine

Nemanja Matić has two goals in his last four games after going 36 games without one. The goal against Middlesbrough on Monday was also his first ever at Stamford Bridge. He’s practically pouring in the goals! But he insists he’s not a goal-machine.

Don’t worry, Nemanja, we believe you!

"I am not a goal machine, I just try to do my best. I know my position is defensive midfielder but if I have the opportunities to score a goal, of course I will try to score."

The goal against Spurs was a goal of the season contender, the one against Middlesbrough was a bit more of pedestrian affair, though the chest down and smooth finish with the weak foot was not entirely unimpressive.

What mattered the most was of course sealing all three points by putting the final nail in Boro’s Premier League coffin.

"We have three games to go, three points we have to take to be champions. Of course we are happy we are so close but we have to stay concentrated to the end. We have the opportunity to win the title on Friday but West Brom away is always hard to play, they are a good team with a good manager so we expect a hard game, but I am sure we will be ready for this."

"There are three games to go but always the most important is the next one. We are excited but this is football, you have to concentrate until the last minute and we will see. Every game is a different story but at the end of it I hope we will win the title."

Matić, unlike his midfielder partner on Monday, Cesc Fàbregas, has been ever-present in Chelsea’s starting lineups this season — not something that was necessarily an obvious outcome this time last season, when Matić looked to be on his way out after a very poor season for the Blues. Getting Matić back to a confident and competent midfielder has been one of Conte’s more underrated accomplishments this season.

"Every player in Chelsea is ready to play. That is why we are in this club and it does not matter really who plays. What is important is we follow the ideas of the coach and give our best. The end result is 3-0 which is great for us."

"Every team in the Premier League is very strong and is difficult to play against, and of course Middlesbrough had a chance to take some points to try to stay in the Premier League but we prepared very well for this, we knew what to expect. To score three goals is not easy and that is why we are happy."

-Nemanja Matic; source: Chelsea FC

The goals are nice, but it’s the points that are the most important. And now we only need three to win the league. A Friday night at the Hawthorns isn’t the most epic setting to do so, but let’s do it anyway.