‘Fear?’ Raphael Varane repeats the word quizzically like it’s one he’s still getting to grips with after nearly two years in England.
But Varane understands the meaning perfectly. Just not the suggestion that he should be at all fearful of Manchester City or their prolific striker Erling Haaland in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
‘Why?’ askes the Frenchman, once again answering the question with a question. ‘Every game is a challenge and I like to challenge myself, to challenge other teams as a group too.
‘The most important thing is to believe. It doesn’t matter if it is a team in good or bad form; the challenge is in front of us and we have to accept it and find a way to win. I think we know we are able to beat any team.’
What about Haaland then? The Norwegian scored three of his 52 goals so far this season when Manchester United were hammered 6-3 at the Etihad in October. Varane went off injured shortly after Haaland netted his second.
Raphael Varane will come toe-to-toe with Erling Haaland (left) during Saturday’s FA Cup final
The Frenchman is a composed and confident presence in manager Erik ten Hag’s backline
In the Old Trafford derby three months later, United and Varane did a much better job of keeping Haaland quiet as they staged a late comeback to win 2-1 with back-to-back goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
‘Yes, he’s a very good player,’ says Varane. ‘We all know that, but the danger from City is everywhere.
‘They are very complete. They can score from set-plays, from a possession game and from a transition game. Obviously he is one of the very good players they have, but we have to respond not to the individual and more to the collective.
‘We have to be consistent for 90 minutes because we know that everything can change in a few seconds.
‘In that game, the first half was very good so we have to do this performance to win the cup. If we have one chance, we have to score.’
Erik ten Hag learned a lot between those two games. At Old Trafford, he played Luke Shaw alongside Varane in central defence with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right back, and brought Fred into midfield alongside Casemiro, pushing Christian Eriksen further forward into the No 10 role and Bruno Fernandes onto the right flank.
One of the aims was to disrupt the supply of ammunition from Kevin De Bruyne to Haaland. It worked.
‘They have a connection,’ says Varane. ‘That kind of pass is complicated to defend, so we try to cut that connection especially with De Bruyne. We try to stop them earlier and not at the end because sometimes it’s too late.’
Varane exudes calm and confidence throughout our conversation at United’s Carrington training complex. The same assurance he brings to United’s defence. And why not?
This, after all, is a man who won 18 trophies at Real Madrid – including four Champions Leagues – to end Barcelona’s dominance under Pep Guardiola.
Now that Guardiola has established an equally strong grip in England, Varane isn’t fazed. City may be favourites to add the FA Cup to the Premier League title, but United’s unflappable No 19 relishes the challenge.
‘I like to face big challenges, especially when something looks impossible. When the challenge is big, I feel more motivation,’ says Varane who joined Real from Lens after Guardiola’s last Champions League success at Barcelona in 2011.
‘I think there are similarities with Pep and the style of play from City, but it’s different.
‘I learned a lot from that period in Madrid. It was first step at the top level. I learned how to fight and develop that winning mentality. We grew as a team and as a club during that period.
Before the move to Man United, Varane saw extensive European success with Real Madrid
In 2022, Varane was reunited with his former team-mate Casemiro (left), with the midfielder’s move transformative for the side’s fortunes
‘We want to develop and be on the top at Manchester United as well. When you start winning you can change the mentality and be more prepared to win the biggest trophies.
‘Sometimes quality is not enough. You need the motivation, the character, the passion on the pitch. To play in these kind of clubs, you need something else. Something different. That character to fight, to assume the responsibility and to never hide on the pitch.
‘The most important thing is to believe. Even when it’s difficult, we know how important Manchester United are around the world.
‘There’s a lot of pressure, so when the results are not good you have to stay calm and composed. When it’s good we have to be relaxed too and not think we are bigger than we are, than the reality.
‘I learned a lot from a club like Madrid, and I try to transmit that here.’
Varane has also learned to adapt to English football. It’s more demanding than Spain – particularly in this 62-game season for United – and that isn’t easy for a player who turned 30 in April.
‘The Premier League is special,’ admits Varane. ‘The physicality and intensity of the games are different. It was much more under our control in La Liga with Madrid. Here you can win and lose against any team.
‘Last season was more a season to adapt and to better understand how to manage the intensity, the pace of the games. This season I’ve been much better. I’ve been very happy with how it’s gone.
‘I think I can read the game better now and anticipate actions much more. I make less tackles and less sprints so that means I am using the positioning very well. That’s one of my strengths now.’
The 30-year-old singles out the Premier League’s ‘physicality and intensity’ as particular draws
Despite picking up an injury in April, Varane returned to help United to a Champions League finish in the final three league games
There were concerns that Varane may miss the end of the season after he was injured in the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla in April, but he returned for the last three Premier League games and will be a key figure for United at Wembley.
So how does a man who has won the World Cup with France and conquered Spain and Europe at Real Madrid view the FA Cup final?
Varane smiles. ‘Yeah, it’s a different feeling,’ he says. ‘But I wanted to come to England to feel these kind of emotions.
‘The FA Cup is huge here. I have a big connection with the fans so I know how important this competition – this game – is to them.’
