Mark Ogden reflects on Eric Cantona's lasting impact in the Premier League on the 25th anniversary of his move to Man United. (1:23)

Nemanja Matic has promised to give "everything" to win the Premier League trophy for Manchester United ahead of a crucial week in the title race.

Jose Mourinho's side are eight points adrift of Manchester City at the top of the table and face trips to Watford and Arsenal this week.

They then play the first derby of the season against Pep Guardiola's City at Old Trafford on Dec. 10. City, meanwhile, face Southampton and West Ham ahead of the Manchester clash.

It is a run of fixtures that could ignite the title race for United, and Matic told Scandinavian supporters' magazine United-Supporteren: "If we were to win the league it would be a very big deal, not only for me but for the club and the fans as well.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen. The fans can at least expect that I will give absolutely everything in every game. I will always give 100 percent.

"Let's see what we can achieve together -- however, I think we can go far.

"It's difficult to make promises in football. I can't promise that we'll win the league. However, I can promise that I will give 100 percent and we'll see how far it takes us."

Nemanja Matic said it had been his dream to play for United. OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

Mourinho has made the Premier League his his top priority this season -- one of the reasons he was so keen to sign both Matic and Romelu Lukaku in the summer.

Matic was signed from Chelsea after winning two titles, one of them under Mourinho, and said it had been his ambition to sign for United.

He added: "To play for Manchester United has always been a dream of mine.

"I'm living my dream now, and of course I have a dream about winning the league with United.

"I still remember I watched the Champions League final in 1999 on the television. I know everything, or at least almost everything, about Manchester United.

"United was a big team back then. They had many fantastic players, but for me, Ryan Giggs was the greatest. When Nemanja Vidic came to United, I also admired him."