Varane: “United are not afraid of Haaland”

Manchester United are not afraid of Erling Haaland, according to Red Devils defender Raphael Varane ahead of their FA Cup final (3/06) against City. The French stopper, however, recognized that the “citizens” can become threatening from every side of the field.

United go into Saturday’s final aiming to end the Premier League champions’ bid for back-to-back FA Cups, with Pep Guardiola’s side chasing a rare treble with the big Champions League final ahead of them. Inter (10/06). The only team that has previously managed to win all three trophies in the same season (FA Cup, Champions League and league) is United, in 1999.

Haaland scored 52 goals in his first season in England, with a record 36 goals in the Premier League. “Fear; No way… Why?” Varane wondered to the Telegraph and continued: “Yes, Haaland is a very good player, we all know that. But the danger from City comes from everywhere, they are a complete team».

He also noted that neutralizing Kevin de Bruyne may have been the key to stopping Haaland, as the Belgian midfielder finished the Premier League season with 16 assists, half of which came to the Norwegian centre-forward. “The connection that Haaland has, especially with De Bruyne, this kind of passing makes it difficult for any defense, so what we will try to do is to “cut” that connection,” Varane reported and concluded: “We know we can beat them. We have to be consistent for 90 minutes because everything can change in a few seconds».

Erik ten Hag’s side are looking to end their season on a high note having already won the League Cup, with Varane – who spent 10 trophy-laden years at Real Madrid – claiming United are developing a winning mentality again . “We have to be positive, we are on the right track. But the most important thing is to believe“, he commented.