Share

Matic wants to 'put things right' against Arsenal

Cape Town - Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is eager to make amends this Saturday for their heavy defeat to Arsenal earlier in the season.

The Blues were humbled in a 3-0 defeat to the Gunners back in September. That result prompted manager Antonio Conte to change the system, an inspired move that was the catalyst for the 13-match winning streak that followed.

"You can lose a game but the most important thing is how you react and in that game against Arsenal, we did not react on the pitch well. I am sure it will be a different story on Saturday," Matic told the Evening Standard.

"We lost the last game 3-0 and when you lose a match like that playing for this kind of club, it is very hard to accept. It is unusual for us to lose without a fight. But at that moment against Arsenal, we had a bad day and they played well.

"I hoped it was going to be a wake-up call for us and it was. After that match we won 13 games in a row. Sometimes you have to lose a game to wake up and I am sure we will not allow any more defeats like that one. You can lose a game but not in that way.”

Nine points separate the two London sides ahead of Saturday's encounter at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues leading the way at the top of the Premier League standings.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE