Raphael Varane explains why Man Utd need to be ‘confident’ ahead of 2023/24 season

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has insisted there is one particular reason why everyone at the club should be “confident” ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The Red Devils just wrapped up their first season under Erik ten Hag as head coach and are making great strides in a transitional year.

The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford following Man Utd’s worst season in the Premier League era, and his reign began with humiliating defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
However, Ten Hag quickly won the majority of the dressing room – Cristiano Ronaldo left the club mid-season and this coincided with excellent form – and Man Utd showed style on the pitch as well as substance, finishing third in the Premier League. League and reaching two domestic cup finals, winning one.

But in an interview with club channels, Varane suggested Man Utd’s ability to come face-to-face with the best sides in the world should serve them well next season. “I think we’ve shown this season that we can beat any team in the world,” Varane said. “So we have to be confident. Not too much, but just enough because you have to believe. We have to believe because we can do it.

On Man Utd’s return to the Champions League, Varane added: “It’s very important. I think it’s the club standard.” “Obviously the league is very competitive, but it was very important, a big goal this season and we achieved it. So I’m very happy to be back in the Champions League.”

Man Utd’s best results in 2022/23

Although Man Utd have suffered some beatings this season, they have also made huge strides in terms of competitiveness.
Ten Hag were already under pressure for his third game in charge, a home game against rivals Liverpool following their humiliation at the hands of Brighton and Brentford.

But the Red Devils managed to beat their Merseyside neighbors 2-1 and this result served as a catalyst for next season.
They ousted leaders Arsenal 3-1 at Old Trafford just weeks later, while arguably their most dominant performance against a big six side came in October, when they beat Tottenham 2-0 at home. In 2023 Man Utd beat neighbors Man City 2-1 and also knocked Barcelona out of the Europa League 4-3 on aggregate.
Their season culminated with a 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final to secure their return to the Champions League by beating Chelsea 4-1.

Also read…

DEAL CONFIRMED) Liverpool has signed Newcastle, Manchester United & Arsenal target Report

As revealed by Football Transfers, Toon target Khephren Thuram is closing in on a move to Liverpool.

In an exclusive released late last night, they report that the OGC Nice midfielder has ‘verbally agreed’ personal terms with the Reds, striking an agreement in principle as the two clubs hold talks over the transfer fee.

The player and his entourage have been ‘pushing’ for Liverpool, despite interest from Newcastle, so it looks as though we’ll miss out on the highly-rated Frenchman.

Newcastle have been heavily linked with a move for Thuram – a 22-year-old talent who has been one of the standout talents in Ligue 1 over the past year – with The Athletic previously revealing that head of recruitment Steve Nickson is a big admirer.

Since then, we’ve seen The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Mark Douglas at iNews and The Mail’s Craig Hope highlight our ongoing interest. However, it seems our Premier League rivals are closing in on a deal.

Providing Liverpool can strike a deal with Nice, he could join new recruit Alexis Mac Allister on Merseyside after the Argentinian sealed a £35m move from Brighton earlier this week.

CONTINUE READING

Cristian Romero reacts on Instagram after news coming out of Liverpool yesterday

Liverpool confirmed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister yesterday and Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero sent him a message on Instagram.

It has been clear for months that the Reds’ priority in the summer transfer window will be new midfielders. Jude Bellingham was their top target for a long time, but they pulled out of the race to focus on other players.

Mac Allister quickly became the one Jurgen Klopp wanted, and Liverpool sealed the deal yesterday.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesTottenham’s Cristian Romero reacts to Alexis Mac Allister joining Liverpool

Alexis Mac Allister has had an unbelievable 12 months.

The Argentine started the season brilliantly with Brighton, scoring five times from midfield before the World Cup. Then, he flew to Qatar to join up with his international teammates, and he created history there.

Mac Allister started every game that Argentina won in Qatar, including the final. He had an amazing tournament and he continued his form in the Premier League as well.

A number of clubs became interested in Mac Allister, but Liverpool were quick to act and beat everyone else for his signature yesterday.

To celebrate his move, Mac Allister took to Instagram to post a message to Reds fans.

His international teammate Cristian Romero replied: “Let’s go, all the best Ale!”

© 2023 INSTAGRAM FROM META

TBR View:

Mac Allister really is an exciting signing for Liverpool.

The Reds have missed a proper number eight ever since Gini Wijnaldum left the club in 2021. The Dutchman was integral in their Premier League and Champions League triumphs, and Liverpool’s midfield hasn’t been the same since he left.

Now, Mac Allister will give them the balance they need in the middle of the park and will chip in with goals as well. He is the ideal replacement for Wijnaldum, and we’re almost certain he will do well.

It will be interesting to see who else Klopp will bring in to join Mac Allister in the middle of the park.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesRelated Topics

Have something to tell us about this article?

READ MORE…

The 10 biggest transfers in Europe in the 2023 summer transfer window

The 2023 summer transfer window is yet to officially open but that hasn’t stopped clubs from doing some big deals. Brighton have already made a record signing with money received from Liverpool.

Here are the biggest deals so far. Players are ranked by size of the initial fee, with add-ons stated.

All the summer’s Premier League deals are here.

1) Pedro Porro (Sporting Lisbon to Tottenham) – £39m

The Portugal right-back became Tottenham’s property having initially joined the club on loan on deadline day in January. He cost £5million for half a season, in which time he played for three different managers, and Spurs were obligated to pay another £39million this summer. Porro is primarily a wing-back so let’s see if he can play in a back four for Ange Postecoglou.

2) Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton to Liverpool) – £35million plus £20m add-ons

Brighton and Liverpool kept the fee under their hats but some Liverpool fans want you to believe they bagged the World Cup winner for the cost of a Tesco meal deal. We have to assume that if Mac Allister is a success, then the Reds will be liable for around £55million, which could still turn out to be a bargain, especially if he adapts to playing a deeper role.

3) Joao Pedro (Watford to Brighton) – £30m

Brighton didn’t wait for the end of the season to get Pedro signed, or for the Mac Allister money to clear in their account, before announcing a club-record deal three weeks before the end of the season. The Seagulls welcomed ‘a brilliant young talent’ and many Watford fans concur.

4) Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo to Napoli) – £25.8million

The Italy forward has already won a Scudetto with Napoli having spent last season on loan. The Serie A champions are obligated to cough up €30million to keep Raspadori having paid €5million to borrow the 23-year-old for a year.

5) Terem Moffi (Lorient to Nice) – £25.8million

West Ham and Bournemouth both wanted Moffi in January but the Nigerian forward opted instead for Nice, who must pay €30million having borrowed him since January. Lorient will also bank 15 % of whatever fee Nice might receive for the 24-year-old, who scored six goals in 16 appearances through the second half of the Ligue 1 season.

6) Hamed Traore (Sassuolo to Napoli) – £21million

Along with Raspadori, Sassuolo also loaned out Traore, this time for the second half of the season in anticipation of banking another fat cheque from Bournemouth. The midfielder only played seven games but, two games before the end of the season, the Cherries said: “Conditions within the original loan agreement have been reached, and the Ivorian is now contracted until June 2028.”

7) Benjamin Sesko (RB Salzburg to RB Leipzig) – £20m

Manchester United were interested – some reports suggest they still are – but Sesko agreed last August to stay under Red Bull’s wing, swapping Salzburg for Leipzig. The Germans will reportedly pay £20million for the 19-year-old, though they may welcome the opportunity to flip the forward swiftly if United or Newcastle make a decisive move.

8) Nicolas Seiwald (RB Salzburg to RB Leipzig) – £17.2m

The Austria midfielder becomes the 20th player to move between Salzburg and Leipzig since Red Bull took over the German club. Seiwald was reportedly a target for Arsenal and Roma but Leipzig agreed a deal for the 21-year-old in February, with a contract signed until 2028.

9) Chris Wood (Newcastle to Nottingham Forest) – £15m

Wood moved to the City Ground in January, with the incentive of a permanent move if certain, mysterious criteria were met. The Times reported that three starts would be enough to make Forest liable for £15million – he managed five before a season-ending thigh injury in March.

10) Ivan Ilic (Hellas Verona to Torino) – £13.5m

Similarly, ex-Man City midfielder Ilic joined Torino on a six-month loan deal from Hellas Verona with a conditional obligation to purchase. The Serbia international offered two goals and three assists in 14 appearances, presumably going over and above whatever minimum requirement was set.

Read next: Jude Bellingham next: Ranking every €100million transfer, with Jack Grealish in top three…