Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo hailed Nemanja Matic as a crucial part of the Blues side after his Champions League winner on Tuesday.

“He’s been very impressive,” said Di Matteo, who managed Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2012.
“There might have been a few doubts about his signing, with him coming back to the club, but he’s really impressed everybody within the team and all the supporters.

“He dictates the time of the team, he shields the back four very well and he has great distribution with his left foot. He has good vision as well. He’s matured very well as a player.
“I remember when he left, when he was a little younger, but he’s become an integral part of this team.
“Chelsea played against Benfica a couple of years back [in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final] and he didn’t make the team, he came on as sub. So he’s really come along, he’s improved a lot as a player. He’s put a place down with the team.”

Matic is on a run of 21 consecutive starts in the Premier League for Chelsea and Glenn Hoddle commended the way the defensive midfielder as adapted to England’s top flight.
“He has got to grips with the tempo of the game in the Premier League,” Hoddle told Sky Sports.
“When he was first here I thought he was a bit leggy – he’s a big lad – but he’s come back in and he’s dealt with that. He’s got vision, he plays with his head up and he looks forward.”