Raphael Varane said, “Quality isn’t always enough. Manchester United is able to vouch for this. They have focused on quality for a large portion of the past ten years. However, it might be argued that they required huge characters more than big names. Varane, a World Cup champion with four trophies from fruitful Champions League runs, fit the bill and had the credentials. But it might be more due to personality than quality as he strives to complete his second season at Old Trafford with the gleam of a second trophy.
Because there are good players in every team in the Premier League’s top division, the Frenchman remarked, “You need the motivation, character, and passion on the pitch.” “But to play in this kind of club you need something else… something different, that character to fight, to assume the responsibility, to never hide on the pitch, be ready to face every challenge you can,” said the player.
Varane mentioned that being a United player may require more than simply natural talent. Pressure may be applied because of the club’s size and international recognition. It may have mattered less if newcomers arrived with the right mindset in the past when success was a self-perpetuating phenomena, when United had Sir Alex Ferguson and a dressing room full of players with sizable medal collections. Simply said, they picked it up.
There is now a perception that United had to bring in big names. Not for the first time, either: Three decades ago, Eric Cantona shown his ability to make a difference. Three years ago, Bruno Fernandes entered a team that was dejected and embraced the chance and the spotlight. Varane and Casemiro, who were once teammates at Real Madrid, currently feel like powerful players; Lisandro Martinez, who is wounded but nevertheless exudes confidence and aggressiveness. In front of goal, Marcus Rashford has served as an example. The mindset of Erik ten Hag’s main players is a contributing factor in his comeback.
It was tempting to question if certain United members had the character and unity of purpose needed during most of the organization’s wilderness years. The club’s enduring obsession with the wealthy and famous did not always produce the right leaders: Harry Maguire seemed to cower in the spotlight during a trying time with the armband, Radamel Falcao appeared to think the club should be subservient to him, Bastian Schweinsteiger may have had the mentality but not the legs, Paul Pogba was long accused of being flaky. Angel di Maria did not want to be in Manchester.
Meanwhile, a number of influential people have aged and degenerated over the past ten years, losing some of their strength, from Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand under David Moyes to Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick. Varane ran the risk of joining their ranks during his injury-plagued first season in Manchester. “Last season was more a season to adapt and to better understand how to manage the intensity,” he claimed. I’ve been lot better this season, and I’m thrilled with how things have worked out.
He is courageous because of his experience. At Wembley, he is unafraid to take on a Manchester City team that is vying for a treble. “No. Why? Every game is a challenge, and I enjoy putting myself to the test,” he answered. In January, United defeated City at Old Trafford, including Erling Haaland. Varane observed, “I prefer to take on great tasks, especially when something seems insurmountable. “We must rise to the occasion and take on the task. We are accustomed to playing with pressure, and we require it in our top; this type of pressure does not restrict you. I talk and shout more on the pitch when the stakes are bigger because it makes you feel more connected.
Even while leadership has occasionally been lacking in humiliating losses, like as the 7-0 loss at Anfield, United has only lost one game in their last 59 games when both Varane and Casemiro started. There were concerns about whether each team would fall short by exchanging the Bernabeu and the enduring possibility of Champions League success for Old Trafford. Finding a new challenge was part of the goal for Varane. The center-back remarked that “The Premier League is special.” “The level is really high, and I believe the games’ physicality and intensity differ. In LaLiga with Madrid, it was far more within our power to control. You can succeed or fail here against any team.
However, changing nations has brought to a well-known conflict. When Varane joined Real in 2011, a team led by Pep Guardiola that excelled at elegant ball movement was the dominant force. Varane went on to win four Champions Leagues in Spain over the course of a decade while Real went on to win La Liga in his first year there. He might use that super-club experience to his advantage right now.
I gained a lot of knowledge during that time in Madrid, he claimed. At the highest level, it was the first step. I acquired fighting skills and a winning mentality. At Manchester United, we aim to grow and succeed as well. When you start winning, your mindset can alter, and you’ll be more motivated to take home the largest awards. Believing is the most crucial thing. We are aware of how crucial Manchester United are globally, even when it’s challenging. There is a lot of pressure, therefore you must maintain your composure when the outcomes are poor. Few defenders have displayed more composure under stress than Varane throughout the course of a career spent at the pinnacle with Real, United, and France.