Manchester United can challenge for trophies next season under new manager Erik ten Hag despite another disappointing campaign, defender Raphael Varane claims.
Varane joined United – along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho – after they had finished second in the Premier League last season and reached the final of the Europa League.
But the high expectations soon ran aground, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer exiting and interim boss Ralf Rangnick struggling to turn things around.
The Old Trafford giants are set to end a poor campaign by missing out on Champions League qualification but Varane, who has won trophies with France and Real Madrid, is confident next season will be better.
“It’s been a frustrating season,” he said after scoring in Monday’s 3-0 victory against Brentford.
“I think it’s good to finish at home in Old Trafford with a win.
“We have to keep pushing and to fight until the end for our fans, so it was a great attitude from the team and an emotional day.
“We want to finish the season with something positive and we have to play for our fans and for our pride.
“I think we can improve (defensively). I think we have good players and we have to defend together closer.
“I think this season we were a little bit irregular and I think we can improve and do better next season.
“I’m always positive and I think with a good pre-season, with good work, we can prepare well for next season and be ready to fight for every trophy. That’s the ambition of this club.”
Manchester United v Brentford player ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7. Awkward high ball dealt with early on in the rain and alert for an Eriksen shot. Saved well from the excellent Eriksen on 55 minutes and again from Toney a few minutes later. EPA -
Diogo Dalot 6. Perfect pass to Ronaldo on two minutes and another for Elanga on eight which led to the opening goal. End product questionable but combined well with Ronaldo and hit the cross bar – though offside was given. Reuters -
Victor Lindelof 7. A clean sheet for his defence and his best moment was when he read a 56th minute Brentford attack well to head the ball out of danger. PA -
Raphael Varane 7. Toney was a handful for him and Brentford’s players held him back to execute a free-kick. Then scored his first United goal, sweeping in a corner in front of the Stretford End. EPA -
Alex Telles 6. Had to concentrate as Brentford’s wingbacks pushed up against him. Apologised to his teammates after being robbed of the ball in his own area by Toney. Ball headed against his hand and saw penalty appeals, while his corner set up the third. EPA -
Nemanja Matic 7. Reliable in his final appearance at Old Trafford. A lovely scooped pass to Fernandes on 52 minutes was the highlight, that and being applauded off by fans and players. Booked. PA -
Scott McTominay 5. Passed ball straight to a yellow shirt during Brentford’s best moment of pressure, but then won possession after 79 minutes and drove forward before giving it to Ronaldo when he could have had a shot himself. Getty Images -
Juan Mata 8. Almost certainly playing at Old Trafford for the last time, he deserved his start after some impressive substitute cameos. Shot wide after being set up by Ronaldo. Then involved in the best move of the match which saw Ronaldo score but it was disallowed. Lovely footballer. Needs to be playing every week. Getty Images -
Bruno Fernandes 6. First goal in 11 games and he was up for it. United haven’t scored enough this season and the goal difference is a pitiful five after 35 games. Shot wide having been set up by Ronaldo soon after. Getty Images -
Anthony Elanga 7. Got to the byline to cross to Fernandes for the first goal. Had space against a mediocre Brentford team. Still improving and one of the bright spots for United this season. AP Photo -
Cristiano Ronaldo 9. On it tonight, he even tracked back at one point. Struck a 23rd minute free-kick on target. Cleverly backheeled a chance for Mata on 32. Won a penalty superbly, then converted it in front of the Stretford End for his 18th league of the season. Top performance. Reuters -
SUBS: Fred 6 (on for Matic). One of the better players in a poor season for United. Positive that he’s back. Reuters -
Edinson Cavani 5 (on for Elanga). He’s been a huge disappointment, picking up a vast salary while barely being fit to play. PA -
Phil Jones 5 (on for Mata). Likely to be his last appearance at Old Trafford. The fans sang his name, he had a chance to score, but best for all parties that he moves on. Reuters -
BRENTFORD RATINGS: David Raya - 5, Was lucky to see Ronaldo’s goal ruled out, while his passes put Brentford’s defenders under pressure at times. Made a good save to deny Dalot, although that also turned out to be offside. Had no chance of stopping Ronaldo’s penalty. AP Photo -
Mads Roerslev - 5, Looked very uncomfortable whenever called upon defensively in the first half, with United’s attackers getting away from him with ease at times. Looked more confident in the second half. AP Photo -
Kristoffer Ajer - 5, Delivered a cross that troubled De Gea but had times where he was caught out with United pushing the ball behind him, including Matic’s ball for a Fernandes chance. PA -
Pontus Jansson - 5, Did well to stop Ronaldo when it looked like he might get through and put good pressure on United’s attackers in the first half. Was grateful for Raya tipping the ball wide after it seemed he might have deflected Ronaldo’s pass into his own net, but wasn’t so lucky when Varane’s shot went in off him moments later. Reuters -
Mads Bech Sorensen - 5, Did enough to stop Elanga reaching a cross in the early stages but couldn’t keep up with him moments later as the Swede assisted the opener. His long throws didn’t cause too many problems on this occasion. EPA -
Rico Henry - 3, Fired an early shot over the crossbar. Had a narrow escape after being put under pressure by Elanga. Was then nudged off the ball by Ronaldo and retaliated by conceding a penalty and wasn’t strong enough when defending against Varane at a corner as the Frenchman scored. Getty Images -
Vitaly Janelt - 6, Put in some good work in the middle and was unlucky to see his pass cut out when trying to lead a counter. Getty Images -
Christian Norgaard - 6, Overhit his pass when a good opportunity opened up for Brentford, but had positive moments including a good pass that created a chance for Toney. Reuters -
Christian Eriksen - 7, Showed an outstanding range of passing from the very beginning as he found Mbeumo, with another picking out Ivan Toney. Saw his free-kick attempt parried away. Didn’t impact the game quite as much in the second period. Getty Images -
Bryan Mbeumo - 6, Rose well but headed wide and hit the side netting after beating Fernandes. Almost found Eriksen with a good cross. EPA -
Ivan Toney - 5, Headed a good chance over, but put in a lot of work and linked play well at times. Made a complete mess of his strike after spinning around the back. Saw a decent shot well saved by De Gea, but didn’t manage to connect with Eriksen’s cross in the latter stages. EPA -
Mathias Jensen (Norgaard, 71’) – N/R, Hit a good shot but it didn’t trouble De Gea as it was blocked well. Getty Images -
Yoane Wissa (Mbeumo, 76) – N/R, Struggled to have much of an impact on the game after being brought on. AP
United are without silverware since winning the Europa League final in 2017 against Ajax, whose current manager will be taking over at Old Trafford this summer.
Ten Hag has impressed onlookers with his work in Amsterdam, where he is on course to win a third Eredivisie title and captured the imagination with their remarkable run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
“Yeah, I played against them in the Champions League and they played very well,” Varane said, reflecting on Ajax’s shock last-16 win at Real Madrid that season.
“I’m very excited to work with him. I think he has good experience and he’s a good person to work in this club.”
Ten Hag has big some decisions to make and a dressing room culture to reshape when he takes the Old Trafford reins.
Varane knows United’s defence is an area that requires improvement but believes in the quality of their central defenders and pointed to the wider consistency required to be successful.
“I think we have good players, players with experience,” he said when asked about his fellow centre-backs.
“I think it’s not just about the defence but the whole team. I think we can improve, we can defend better.
“We can be more in control during games. Sometimes we’re able to play very well 20-30 minutes and then play bad 10 or 15 minutes. We lost a lot of points like this.
“I think if we are consistent, we can improve a lot, so I think it’s a collective work we have to do.”
Varane is also hoping to display his individual quality on a more consistent basis after injuries disrupted a first season at Old Trafford that has not gone as anyone envisaged.
“Yes, but the experience, it’s amazing,” he said. “The feeling to be a United player is something special.
“I am very happy to play in the Premier League and it’s a great experience.
“Obviously, it’s not the result we expected but I’m still positive and I think that the next season will be better."
