Raphael Varane 'ready to fight for every trophy' under Erik ten Hag
- Planet Sport writer
- 3 May 2022
Varane is looking forward to working with the incoming manager after admitting it has been a 'frustrating' season for the club.
Raphael Varane is promising United fans a much-improved season next year after playing their final home game of 2021/22.
The Frenchman - who arrived from Real Madrid in the summer - was on the scoresheet as the Red Devils recorded a 3-0 win over Brentford.
Having finished runners-up in last season's Premier League and Europa League, a feeling of progress and hope was fuelled as stadiums returned to full capacities and new faces bolstered the squad.
Former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival only heightened expectations at Old Trafford in the summer, but things have gone from bad to worse.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November and interim boss Ralf Rangnick has not had the greatest of impacts.
United will yet again miss out on winning silverware but Varane is hopeful of things turning around under new manager Erik ten Hag.
"It's been a frustrating season," said Varane. I think it's good to finish at home in Old Trafford with a win.
"We have to keep pushing and to fight until the end for our fans, so it was a great attitude from the team and an emotional day.
"We want to finish the season with something positive and we have to play for our fans and for our pride.
"I think we can improve (defensively). I think we have good players and we have to defend together closer.
"I think this season we were a little bit irregular and I think we can improve and do better next season.
"I'm always positive and I think with a good pre-season, with good work, we can prepare well for next season and be ready to fight for every trophy. That's the ambition of this club."
United are without silverware since winning the Europa League final in 2017 against Ajax, whose current manager will be taking over at Old Trafford this summer.
Ten Hag has impressed onlookers with his work in Amsterdam, where he is on course to win a third Eredivisie title and captured the imagination with their remarkable run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
"Yeah, I played against them in the Champions League and they played very well," Varane said with a laugh, reflecting on Ajax's shock last-16 win at Real Madrid that season.
"I'm very excited to work with him. I'm looking forward to working with him. I think he has good experience and he's a good person to work in this club."
Ten Hag has big some decisions to make and a dressing room culture to reshape when he takes the Old Trafford reins.
Varane knows United's defence is an area that requires improvement but believes in the quality of their central defenders and pointed to the wider consistency required to be successful.
🔺 That first-goal feeling ⚽️
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 3, 2022
🔺 Praise for @Cristiano 🇵🇹
🔺 Looking ahead to 2022/23 💭
Get @RaphaelVarane's reaction to #MUNBRE 💬👇#MUFC
"I think we have good players, players with experience," he said when asked about his fellow centre-backs.
"I think it's not just about the defence but the whole team. I think we can improve, we can defend better.
"We can be more in control during games. Sometimes we're able to play very well 20-30 minutes and then play bad 10 or 15 minutes. We lost a lot of points like this.
"I think if we are consistent, we can improve a lot, so I think it's a collective work we have to do."
Varane is also hoping to display his individual quality on a more consistent basis after injuries disrupted a first season at Old Trafford that has not gone how anyone envisaged.
"Yes, but the experience it's amazing," he said. "The feeling to be a United player is something special.
"I am very happy to play in the Premier League and it's a great experience.
"Obviously, it's not the result what we expected but I'm still positive and I think that the next season will be better.
"I think I need a full pre-season to be fit but I think next season will be better.
"I think this season was not bad but we can improve and we can do better."
