Manchester United achieved their main objective this season as they secured a return to the Champions League and springled some gold dust on the campaign by winning the Carabao Cup.
Raphael Varane, who had єɴԀured a nightmare first season atManchester United, was at the heart of a lot of good that came from the season and the Frenchman has now reflected on his second year.
Varane forged a seemingly unbreakable bond with 2022 summer signing Lisandro Martinez at the heart of United’s defence and that came after a significant improvement on the fitness side.
The four-time Champions League winner was plagued by injuries in his first season and although he still sustained some issues in his second year, he was available far more often.
Speaking after the season came to an єɴԀ, Varane admitted that he’s ‘excited’ and ‘ready’ for next season as he highlighted the importance of returning to Europe’s fine dining table.
“Yeah, it has been a very long season and the last rest was in June last year! So yeah, I think it’s important to charge the batteries and come back stronger,”Varane is quoted as saying byManchester United’s official website.
“I think, sometimes, it’s the best work you can do. So I need to rest, too. As I say, come back stronger because the next season will be a big challenge and I’m very excited. So we have to be ready for it.
“It’s very important [qualifying]. I think it’s the standard of this club. Obviously, the league is very competitive, but that was very important, a big target and we achieved it. I’m happy to be back in the Champions League.”
United will enter the Champions League group stages next season in what will be the final season of the tournament as we know it.
In the following season, the 2024/25 campaign, the format will change entirely and the eight groups will instead be swapped out for a one-group system.
By then, Ten Hag will have spent two seasons at the club and we should be looking at a completely different side from the broken and incoherent squad he inherited in 2022.
Varane will, undeniably, still be at the heart of the team if he continues to manage his ιɴjυɾу problems well but there are ɾєρօɾτs that Ten Hag is still keen on adding bodies to that area of the pitch.
Napoli star Kim Min-jae has been heavily linked with a move after a stunning campaign with the Serie A champions, with Ajax star Jurrien Timber also making headlines.
