Raphael Varane on how Man United pulled off their stunning derby victory over City

French defender talks of manager Erik ten Hag's preparations for crunch game and impact of Casemiro on Old Trafford team

Manchester United's Raphael Varane celebrates at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (AP Photo / Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Raphael Varane celebrates with the Old Trafford crowd after the final whistle. PA

Raphael Varane celebrates with Manchester United teammate Casemiro. Getty

Raphael Varane celebrates the win over Manchester City with the fans. Getty

Raphael Varane celebrates with Manchester United teammates at the end of the game. Getty

Raphael Varane celebrates the victory. Getty

Manchester United's Raphael Varane battles with Manchester City's Erling Haaland in the derby. PA

Manchester United's Raphael Varane in action during the derby. Reuters

Manchester United's Raphael Varane in action against Manchester City's Phil Foden. EPA

Raphael’s work was complete. He’d played another peerless game in Manchester United’s defence – though he had to overcome the surprise of United conceding a first league goal at home since September 4, when Arsenal were defeated 3-1.

The comeback against Manchester City was a high point of a season that started badly but is now bringing many for United fans. Erik ten Hag’s side have won their last nine matches and moved up to third in the Premier League, just one point behind City. It was after that win against Pep Guardiola’s side that Varane walked towards J-Stand and began to salute the fans in that section, his clenched fists rising three times to huge cheers.

The National spoke to the French international defender after the game and he explained: “At the end I felt a connection with the fans. We really want to win and to do that against a big rival, in our home. We live stronger with this. It was beautiful. It’s a special stadium with a magnificent atmosphere. It’s amazing.”

How was that today?

Very good. I’m really happy. It was a good game. We prepared so well tactically for this game with the Mister (the manager). We spoke a lot with him. We knew exactly what we wanted to do. In this game we played better in the first half but we didn’t score. In the second part we played a little poor. It was difficult, City played well. Then we became efficient. It was a special game, a comeback and in our own home.

We’re now much better than the last game [against City]. We know better now what the manager wants and how he wants to do it. We’ve seen the evolution in this team. It was a complete game at a high level. We’re very happy.

You mentioned tactical preparations, describe them please

We know that City play very well. They press, they have a lot of the ball. So we chose when to press and where to close the spaces. We knew where to hurt them and we have players who are very fast up front. We had to use our fast players.

And the comeback, describe the mentality of the players to come back?

After the first goal, we didn’t let our heads drop, even though we conceded a goal in our home. But we also knew that we had the energy of the fans. We continued to follow our plan. Then we scored and that changed the whole game.

Was that your best moment so far in this club?

One of them, for sure. I’ve not seen the league table yet but it was beautiful.

The league table is looking very good. Is a title challenge possible?

Everything is possible. We’ll just take it game by game. It’s a long way to go and it’s very difficult. The intensity of every game is incredible, the physical effort. It’s like the same intensity of a big Champions [League] game every game. The rhythm is very high. The players are very well prepared physically. We know how difficult it is. But we’re solid, we’re strong. We just need to use the quality players with the ball.

Can we talk about some of those players – the defenders?

Really good today. Concentrated. Aggressive, well-positioned. We spoke a lot during the game about where to close down the spaces and where to cover for each other. We spoke a lot about this before the game too. You cannot leave a single second to chance against a team like City.

And with Casemiro in front of you?

There are no words. Ok, he covers so much ground. He runs so much. He’s aggressive when he wants the ball, yet calm when he has the ball. He was incredible one more time.”

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7, City had more possession but fewer chances in the first half – just one shot to United’s four. A couple of poor balls out and couldn’t do much for City’s goal. Getty

Tyrell Malacia - 9, His best United game. Made a fine run on a 32nd minute counter attack but the pass from Fernandes didn’t come to him. Excellent cutting out a 54th minute De Bruyne ball. Targeted in the last derby, a 3-6 defeat. Much better in this one, though a 75th minute cross was a poor one. PA

Luke Shaw - 9, Surprise starter and busy as City put a lot of balls into the United box. Took the ball off Bernardo to break up a 54th minute City attack. Roared on after a 94th minute interception which stopped a City attack. And again in the 95th minute. AFP

Raphael Varane - 9, He’s brilliant. Followed Haaland closely and bested him throughout. Rapid when clearing up loose ball, snuffing attacks out. Went towards J Stand at the end and bellowed in celebration with the fans. This is why he joined United. Magnificent performance. Reuters

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 8, Big test for the man – and he was up to it. Grew stronger in the second half, battled, won tackles and even had a shot on goal. AFP

Fred - 8, Man-marked De Bruyne. Two super tackles on him after 18, to huge cheers. Energy to the end. Like a rat up a drainpipe. Magnificent. EPA

Casemiro - 8, Headed corners away. Blocked Haaland’s shot on 24. Couldn’t get close enough to De Bruyne as he set up City’s opener. Ball towards Rashford set up the equaliser – though Fernandes converted it. Helped United be so good out of possession. PA

Christian Eriksen - 6, Played in the No 10 role and put Fernandes in for an early shot. Combined well with Rashford in a 37th minute attack. Booked for a second foul on Grealish and brought off soon after. PA

Bruno Fernandes - 8, Played on the right, defended well, pressed well. Manager’s man of the match. Shot wide after 11 following an Eriksen assist. Poor ball towards Malacia on 32 as United countered. Lofted a clever ball forward. Then he equalised – what a (controversial) moment. Getty

Anthony Martial - 5, Surprise start given his manager said he was injured. Effective when coming back early in the game and linking up on the attacks, but he didn’t press as he should – and did against City in previous derbies. Off at half time. Getty

Marcus Rashford - 8, Linked with those around him. Broke on 33 and shot but it was easily cleared. Burned Rodri off on 37 but ran out of space as Ederson came out and made a top save. Pulled up soon after and it looked like he’d have to leave the field at half time. He didn’t and stayed on to get the 82nd minute winner, the ninth consecutive game he’s scored in. AFP

SUBS: Antony - 5, On for Martial at half time. Didn’t do much. Reuters

Alejandro Garnacho - 7, On for Eriksen after 71. Energetic and ran down left. Tried to cross, the ball hit Ake’s face and came back to him. He turned, then hit a left footed cross towards Rashford for the winner. EPA

Harry Maguire N/A. Lisandro Martinez N/A. Scott McTominay N/A. Reuters

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 5, Looked shaky at times, notably rushing out and being beaten to the ball by Rashford, but did well to smother the United forward later in the first half. Little he could have done about the goals. PA

Kyle Walker - 6, Was solid for large periods, notably stepping out to stop Fernandes’ pass to Malacia, and got forward well with one ambitious shot fizzing agonisingly wide before half time. Was beaten by Fernandes for the equaliser. PA

Manuel Akanji - 6, Cleared Rashford’s shot off the line then stopped Martial getting off a convincing header. Did superbly to stop Malacia’s ball through, then halted Garnacho’s run but was involved as Fernandes equalised then completely lost Rashford as United went ahead. AFP

Nathan Ake - 6, Wasn’t afraid to step out and make an impact, whether that was on the ball or winning it back. However, he was turned by Garnacho before the substitute set up the winner. AP

Joao Cancelo - 7, Showed early intent with a burst forward while also defending well, notably reaching Martial’s pass ahead of Rashford and heading away Shaw’s cross. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne - 8, Was frustrated by Fred early on but his influence grew as the game progressed with the Belgian’s delightful dink setting up Grealish’s opener. Couldn’t quite unlock United’s defence as City chased the equaliser. EPA

Rodrigo - 7, Put in a lot of strong defensive work, winning the ball back when United threatened to break forward and doing well to keep Rashford under pressure when he was bearing down on goal. PA

Bernardo Silva - 5, Dropped deep to get the ball in the first half but played a poor pass that resulted in a chance for Fernandes. Couldn’t quite play Haaland through, then tried to head the ball back when there was the chance to go for goal. AFP

Riyad Mahrez - 6, Was frustrated by the amount of times Malacia fouled him in the first half and had a poor pass cut out in a promising position. Played a lovely flick to help a De Bruyne burst forward. Getty

Erling Haaland - 5, Tried to come deep to get on the ball and saw his one real shot blocked by Casemiro. Made a strong defensive header from a United corner but was unable to get a shot off before Casemiro tackled him. AFP

Phil Foden - 4, Was very quiet and was caught offside a few times. Couldn’t get a convincing header on De Bruyne’s cross and played a poor pass in a promising position. Hooked after 57 minutes. EPA

SUB: Jack Grealish (Foden, 57’) - 8, Made an instant impact as he headed home De Bruyne’s cross, then continued to get on the ball. His late cross required a superb defensive header from Shaw. AFP