'After Chelsea won the 2014/15 title, we were unofficially on holiday - then Jose gave us 40 days off. Players came back overweight - I remember seeing them and thinking, 'Oh, we're in trouble'' Nemanja Matic on Chelsea's horror title defence

""We'd started speaking with a few clubs in England and France. I hadn't had Chelsea in mind because we didn't have a contact, but then my agent told me that Jose Mourinho wanted me back at Chelsea, because he'd followed Benfica," Matic tells FourFourTwo of his return to Stamford Bridge. "He said I'd be an important player for his team. I wanted to work with him, and I knew Chelsea and everyone who worked there. I made the right choice.""

""The club was well organised," says Matic. "Everything was prepared for us to perform well and only think about getting results. Roman Abramovich, technical director Michael Emenalo and Jose Mourinho were all winners. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. "We had players who were ready to sacrifice themselves for the club we were mentally ready to compete.""

Nemanja Matic is a two-time Premier League champion who considers the 2015/16 season a missed chance for a third title after Leicester City's triumph overshadowed Chelsea's failings. Matic rejoined Chelsea from Benfica in the January 2014 transfer window after Jose Mourinho sought him because Mourinho had followed Benfica. Chelsea mounted a successful title charge that summer, winning the club's fifth league title. The club was well organised, with Roman Abramovich, technical director Michael Emenalo and Mourinho creating a winning environment. Players were prepared to sacrifice themselves and were mentally ready to compete. Chelsea's title defence the following season was tepid and energy-draining.

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