Manchester United star Raphael Varane has, on Thursday evening, provided his take on how his teammates will be best served in breaking up the lethal connection between Manchester City pair Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
The latest edition of the Manchester Derby, of course, is set to play out this weekend.
This comes as United and City prepare to kick horns at Wembley, in the finale of this season’s FA Cup.
The latter will head into the clash with sights still firmly set on a historic treble, whilst Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils remain in the hunt for a domestic cup double.
No doubt primed to play a central role in the eventual outcome in England’s capital, meanwhile, will be dynamic Sky Blues duo Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
The pair have proven, in the eyes of many, English football’s two standout performers to this point in the season, with KDB having laid on a pair of Haaland goals during City’s 6-3 derby triumph in the Premier League back in October.
And, as alluded to above, on Thursday one key member of the defensive ranks at Old Trafford has provided his take on how Erik ten Hag’s men would be best served in attempting precisely that.
Speaking in anticipation of the FA Cup finale, Raphael Varane urged his teammates to break up any potential link-up between De Bruyne and Haaland ‘early’, before it is afforded the chance to cause damage:
“That kind of pass is complicated to defend, so we try to cut that connection. We try to stop them earlier and not at the end because sometimes it’s too late.”
Varane continued:
“We know we have to be strong. That was part of the plan [before United’s 2-1 win in January] because they have a lot of connections and can change systems and have a different approach to games. It’s one of the things we have to work on.”
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