Summer signing Raphael Varane has revealed he has been left impressed by the ‘togetherness’ at Manchester United since his arrival, while he was also full of praise for outgoing boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Frenchman has endured a frustrating start to life in England following his move from Real Madrid in the summer, the serial-winning defender restricted to just six Premier League appearances thus far for his new club.
That lack of game time has been caused by two spells on the sidelines with injury, the 28-year-old currently absent due to a hamstring injury that he picked up in the draw with Atalanta in Bergamo a few weeks ago, having only made his return from a separate issue in the win over Tottenham a few days earlier.
His absence has coincided with a dismal period for the club in recent months, with the World Cup winner forced to watch on as his side were brutally dismantled by the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Watford.
There has seemingly been a noticeable difference when he has featured thus for the Red Devils, with the backline looking far less shaky with him in it, albeit with the centre-back still a week or so away from making a return to action.
As Man United prepare to take on Crystal Palace on Sunday, Varane has insisted that the players need to take ‘responsibility’ for their recent miserable run, as they head into a new era under German visionary, Rangnick.
“We have to believe and never give up. We have to stay calm and focus on our work,” he said in an interview for The Times. “That’s what I say to my team-mates in the dressing room. We know we have to take our responsibility and try to do our best. We know we have to improve. I know from my experience there is a lot of noise outside but inside we have to go together and help each other.”
The four-time Champions League winner admitted he has been impressed by the togetherness at the club, even during the difficult times in recent weeks and months.
“A good example is the atmosphere at Old Trafford when we were losing 2-0 and we won the game 3-2 [against Atalanta]. The stadium pushed the team. In England it’s like that. In all the [other] countries it’s very different if you are losing 2-0 at home, the atmosphere will be very different.
“That’s one of the reasons I came here because of the different atmosphere, different feeling in stadiums. Manchester United is special.”
The stark dip in results of late ultimately spelled the end for club legend Solskjaer, although Varane has praised the ‘humble’ Norwegian, despite their brief period working together.
“I spoke with him before signing here. He’s a very good person and humble with important values and in the short time here he taught me a lot of things, values and a lot of things about the club, the mentality of the club. He represents a lot of things of this club: very respectful, humble. He always tried to do his best.”
Solskjaer bowed out of the club with an emotional farewell interview, something that Varane believes illustrated the 48-year-old’s honesty, in line with his former Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
“Sometimes when you speak about something sensitive, it’s like a bit negative because it’s like a weakness. But it’s not true. It’s a strength. Because when he speaks with a player, he’s honest.
“It’s important to manage and for leadership to be honest with his players and especially this point it’s similar with Zizou. Maybe that’s why I like this feeling. It was a short time working with him but I learn a lot.”
