Why do we consider blood as a connective tissue?

(N/A) Connective tissues are characterized by cells scattered throughout an extracellular matrix. They serve to connect different body systems. Blood is classified as a type of connective tissue for the following reasons:
$1$. Like other connective tissues,blood is mesodermal in origin.
$2$. It connects various body systems by transporting oxygen,nutrients,and hormones to all parts of the body,while simultaneously removing metabolic waste products.
$3$. Blood contains an extracellular matrix known as plasma,in which cellular components such as red blood cells $(RBCs)$,white blood cells $(WBCs)$,and platelets are suspended.