Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has shed light on the inner workings of the Red Devils’ dressing room, revealing an obvious difference in professionalism between his time at Chelsea and his tenure at Old Trafford.
Matic expressed his dismay at the lack of punctuality among certain players at Manchester United, citing that it became a persistent issue, unlike his experience at Chelsea where professionalism was the norm.
Matic discloses that prominent figures like Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho, among others, were recurrently behind time for training sessions, prompting a group of punctual players to take matters into their own hands. Feeling resentful by the lack of obedience to schedules, they established an internal disciplinary committee, with Matic overseeing the change.
To enforce accountability, Matic initiated a system where late arrivals were documented on a publicly displayed sheet, leading to the imposition of fines.
Astonishingly, the fines accumulated to a substantial sum, totaling around £75,000 over the course of a season.
“We had planned to use the money to throw a party in London, but we didn’t due to the Covid outbreak, Matic said”.
This revelation sheds light on the reported lack of discipline and professionalism within the Manchester United squad during Matic’s tenure. Sancho, in particular, has faced criticism for his attitude and behaviour, with rumours circulating that he was often late for training.
His poor form and controversial antics led to him being banished from first-team activities by manager Erik ten Hag.
Pogba, on the other hand, has struggled since rejoining Juventus, with his performances falling short of expectations. He recently tested positive for a banned substance and has been provisionally suspended.
