Pundit can’t believe Man United could axe Raphael Varane after what he’s seen
Noel Whelan has suggested there is no way back into the Man United defence for Harry Maguire after Erik ten Hag found a “nice balance” without him.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are striking up a “really good relationship” after watching a defence which was “all over the place” in the losses against Brighton and Brentford.
Man United extended their winning streak to four games with a 3-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday (4 September) and moved into fifth place.
Maguire started the first two games of the season but was dropped for the derby day win over Liverpool last month – with Luke Shaw also axed by Erik ten Hag.
As per FBRef, Man United have won the highest percentage of aerial duels of any Premier League side (58%).
Whelan hailed the “physicality” of Varane and Martinez and insisted their partnership is something which hasn’t been seen at Old Trafford for a “long, long time”.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “That defence was all over the place in the first two games.
“They have obviously been working hard on the training ground since then. Ten Hag has found a nice balance there with Varane and Martinez – and he needed to.
“They’re very physical, which I like, but physical in a controlled way. You have got to have that streak in your game.
“They seem to have a really good relationship blossoming between the two of them, and that’s what they’ve not had for a long, long time.
“We didn’t see this togetherness and this chemistry – but we’re seeing the difference now.”
In other news, pundit salutes Man United star who’s ‘better than Kevin De Bruyne’.