If his initial stint at Chelsea was blink-and-you-missed-it, then Nemanja Matic’s reintroduction demanded undivided attention.
The Serb, brought back in January to the English Premier League club after a few seasons with Benfica in Portugal, was handed his first league start early last month, in the crucial encounter at Manchester City.
City had been rampant this season at Etihad Stadium, winning all 11 matches, and knew victory would take them above Arsenal at the summit.
For Chelsea, then three points behind their opponents, a defeat would strike a significant blow to their title aspirations.
Matic's inclusion represented a sizeable endorsement from manager Jose Mourinho. Not only was the returning midfielder, 25, thrust into the belly of the battle, but he would provide direct opposition to Yaya Toure, City's most influential player.
Yet, it was Matic who supplied a titanic display, excelling in the centre of the pitch as Chelsea recorded a 1-0 triumph.
It was a performance of such promise that Twitter was flooded with plaudits, chief among those from Joey Barton.
“Matic currently out Toure-ing Yaya Toure,” tweeted the QPR midfielder. “Won’t see many do that. Bigger, stronger and quicker than him.”
Read our Q and A with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho here
As he reflects one month later on that watershed moment, Matic’s response is somewhat more understated.
“I don’t like to say I played against him, or him, or him – I prefer to say I played against Manchester City,” he said in an interview with Chelsea’s magazine.
“I have a lot of respect for every player and it doesn’t matter what his name is; I respect each opponent exactly the same.
“I wanted to show my quality and I know it was important to start well, because that helped me to feel more comfortable. The most important thing is that the people who work with me every day feel I give my best.”
It took some convincing that his best was good enough for a club with pretensions of ruling England and conquering Europe.
Having signed in 2009 from Slovakia’s Kosice, Matic, at 6ft 4ins, is an imposing, yet elegant central midfielder who struggled to break into the first team. After his first season, he was loaned to Vitesse in Holland.
Six months later, he was included in the deal that brought in David Luiz from Benfica. Playing alongside Pablo Aimar, Matic soon established himself as an integral cog in Jorge Jesus’s side, although the 2012/13 campaign ended in frustration.
Benfica lost the Primera Liga title by a solitary point, and finished runners-up in both the Portuguese Cup and the Europa League.
There, ironically, it was Chelsea who proved their conquerors. However, from the wreckage of an ultimately disappointing season, Matic emerged as Portugal’s Player of the Year.
His swift progress persuaded Chelsea to re-sign him during the most recent transfer window. Matic had developed into more than simply a tenacious ball-winner; by now he was an accomplished, deep-lying playmaker, too.
Confident that he fit Chelsea’s requirements at the base of midfield – he is a considerable upgrade on John Mikel Obi – Mourinho paid £21 million (Dh129m) to recruit Matic on a five-and-a-half-year contract.
Since then, he has been a fixture in Chelsea’s march to the peak of the Premier League.
Predictably, Matic is relishing his prominent role.
“I’m a midfielder. If I don’t take responsibility, who is going to? That’s why it was important for me to go away, to grow,” he said. “I feel different than I felt three years ago.
“Maybe if I stayed at Chelsea, I would not play like I do now; maybe I would have played better, maybe I would play worse, you never know. But for me, in that moment, it was good to go and play.
“I learnt a lot at Benfica … not only how to play that central-midfield position, but I learnt to play with pressure. There is a lot at the club, just like there is at Chelsea, and it was good for me to go.”
As transformative as was his time at Benfica, Matic’s transition to Chelsea has been helped by a compatriot and comrade.
Branislav Ivanovic, the experienced Serbian defender, has acted as mentor to Matic, guiding him both on the pitch and off, even filling in the blanks when his already proficient English fails him.
Having observed at close quarters his young countryman through two spells in west London, Ivanovic sees in Matic a “different confidence and attitude. He is the one who is leading the game”.
That respect is reciprocated, if a little exaggerated.
“We are only a small country, but for us Serbians, I would say Branislav is a bit like David Beckham in England,” Matic says. “He is at one of the best clubs in the world and he is one of our best players. In Serbia, he is a king.”
If he continues to furnish Chelsea’s midfield with high-class performances, Matic may soon enjoy similar affection in the club’s royal blue.
He comes from a particularly strong football lineage: his father played professionally in the former Yugoslavia, while younger brother Uros features for NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Matic may have taken slightly longer than his sibling to arrive at his current destination – when on Kosice’s books, there was a trial at Middlesbrough.
Now back at Chelsea, his focus is on solely what lies ahead. “Who knows what would have happened if I signed for Middlesbrough? Would I be here today?
“All I know is that I am a Chelsea player now and very happy to be here. I am 25 and I hope the best years of my career are going to be here.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
The latest edition of Chelsea magazine is available to download on your tablet now from www.chelseafc.com/mobile
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The five pillars of Islam
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
