"?Chelsea's midfield enforcer Nemanja Matic looks a hard man to hurt.
After all, he's a pretty big dude. But the Serbian has admitted that Jose Mourinho's treatment of him last season - particularly THAT double substitution - left him in a bad place.
Now, he claims to be on top of things again, but that's only after living through the embarrassment of being subbed off just 28 minutes after being subbed on in a match against Southampton.
"I felt terrible to be subbed, to be honest," he said to the "?Mirror. "I am a man first of all and of course I felt bad at that moment. But as you know, I didn't react, I stayed professional.
"Normally some of the players react to that and cause some problems but as you can see I didn't react and showed respect for the coach and for the club and my team. It was very hard. You have to play and see how it feels.
"I knew I did the right thing when I sat on the bench. I knew I did the right thing and I am proud that I didn't react."?
Just my opinion but I think Nemanja Matic is a World-Class DM. He's back to his best this year. But I like him more than most I think.
The 28-year-old showed his displeasure in another way, by refusing to celebrate after scoring a marvelous goal in a 3-2 loss against Sunderland. But he insists that it wasn't the only reason for his lack of enthusiasm.
"If the team target is to be first, second or third, it is hard to celebrate when you are tenth in the table,"? he said. "Of course I was happy to score, but our target is not to be tenth."?
BREAKING: Jose Mourinho charged with misconduct during @ManUtd's game against @BurnleyOfficial on Saturday. #SSNHQ
Things are very different now. Having brought in Antonio Conte over the summer, the Blues are headed in the right direction, and a favourable string of results have them sitting in fourth spot on the Premier League table, just one point adrift of the three teams above them.
"As you can see, we have improved a lot but that is normal," Matic added.
"We had a new coach at the beginning of the season and every day we work on that to see what he wants from us and day by day, we are better and better and we show that on the pitch.
"We are in a good way. We are improving as a team. Also individually, I feel that everyone is one step better than before and much better.
"Of course everyone feels better when you win the games.
"I always try to give my best and work hard and with this season, with better results, it feels better. This season I am physically better and with the results comes confidence. I hope to continue like this."?