Raphael Varane has revealed that Manchester United’s pre-season tour was a huge step in their early progression under Erik ten Hag.
Having named the Dutchman as their new manager before the start of the summer, Ten Hag went about reinventing the culture around a team that had been in perpetual decline. Last season’s 56 points was their lowest ever Premier League tally with a broken and divided dressing room understandably failing to deliver on the pitch.
United spent the summer getting to grips with the new manager and the intensive demands he sets upon his charges. Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford with the desire to introduce a system which incorporated a higher press and more intensity in all aspects.
The Red Devils spent the majority of the summer on a tour of Australia and Asia, picking up victories over top-flight rivals in Liverpool and Crystal Palace. And while that didn’t immediately translate when the competitive action got underway, four wins on the spin since have shown that the message has been getting across.
Asked about the spirit within the camp, Varane, who was forced to battle for his place under the new man in charge, pointed to their summer trip as a vital building block in repairing the spirit in the camp.
“We communicate a lot, the pre-season was very important for that, the tour that we did,” Varane said, during an interview with TCL Global. “It was important to build the spirit of this team.”
Interestingly, one very notable absentee from that trip was Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old was excused to miss the tour citing personal reasons, coming before he made it clear he wanted to leave the club.
Ronaldo had hoped to seal a move to a Champions League club before the window closed, but remains with United and thus far, on the peripheries. In all but one Premier League game this season, Ronaldo has started from the bench, with Ten Hag suggesting his disjointed pre-season left him behind those competing with him for a starting spot.
"As we said, Ronaldo is here. And, as we all know, he didn't have a pre-season. You cannot miss pre-season. It's a base. Especially with the game we play, the way we want to play. We don't play in the same way we did last year, there is no comparison. This demands cooperation and it demands certain positioning in - and out - of possession. The other thing is his fitness.”
Last week, a United source told the Sun that the dressing room shares Ten Hag’s opinion and believe he isn’t physically able to deliver in the new system. It adds that many think Marcus Rashford leading the line gives them a better chance of victory, rather than his more illustrious team-mate.
Regardless of the thoughts behind the scenes, Ronaldo could be in line for another start when United take on Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova on Thursday night. The Portuguese started last week against Real Sociedad, with Ten Hag utilising his squad for European competitions.
And although it may not be at the top of United’s priorities, Varane insists that the team will go all out to win every competition they enter. The Red Devils are without silverware since 2016 - their longest drought in a generation - a drought they will be desperate to end.
“We are ambitious, we want to win every game,” he added. “We know that the Premier League is a very difficult competition and we prepare every day to be ready. We will try to win every trophy that’s possible.”
