Nemanja Matic takes unusual step of fining himself for breaking Manchester United dressing room rules

The United squad’s code of conduct has caught out several top stars this season

Nemanja Matic (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United’s squad togetherness is a work in progress which some players have attributed to the improvement in results this season, but part of it stems from off-pitch discipline.

That includes a list of rules which players must adhere to and which is monitored by the players themselves - with those falling foul of the requirements having to pay fines into a squad pot.

Responsible for the fine-gathering are club captain Harry Maguire and the veteran Nemanja Matic - and the Serbian midfielder admitted that he actually had to reprimand himself recently after Paul Pogba delayed him to a team meeting.

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“I have to say, just before the Newcastle game, I fined myself,” he said to the club website.

“I was late for a meeting by two seconds, and the rules are the same for everyone. I had to fine myself, because they catch me!

“I was late to the meeting. In front of the room [where the meeting was taking place] I was talking to Paul, so I will ask him to pay 50 per cent of my fine. I don’t know if he will accept!”

However, Matic is far from the only senior squad member who has had to pay in.

Maguire also recently confirmed that he was caught with his mobile phone in a prohibited area and fined by Matic - though the skipper claimed he was a victim of circumstance as he was planning to leave training in a different direction after the session.

His team-mate wasn’t having any of the excuses, though, saying the accountability all players had to deal with was vital in team-building.

“He brought his phone to the gym. The problem was [that] me and him, we decide what are the fines! A few days later, he brought the phone to the gym, so I said, ‘Harry, I’m sorry…’

“It’s very important, discipline, in our team, so that’s why we made some basic rules. Not to be late for training, not to be late for meetings, no phones in the gym. The guys struggled to adapt for a few months, so we had a lot of money in our account, but it’s going to be better!”