United need to improve everything under Erik ten Hag, insists Varane

Raphael Varane knows Manchester United need to “improve in everything” over pre-season as new manager Erik ten Hag starts to mould the side in his image.

After starting last season withOleGunnarSolskjaerand limping over the line in sixth under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, the Old Trafford giants haveentrustedthe52-year-old to turn things around.

Ten Hag has been drilling the side during pre-season training and oversaw an eye-catching 4-0 friendly win against rivals Liverpool in his first match as United boss.

TheDutchmanimmediatelysaidhewouldnotgetcarried away by the result in Bangkok despite some clear positives – a view shared by serial winner Varane.

“We know exactly how we want to play,” the United centre-back said. “The manager explained very well what we have to do and it’s absolutely clear. So we know we have to be very fit because it’s a very physical way to play.

“We are happy with the resultobviouslybutweknowwe have to work very hard still to bereadyforthestartoftheseason. We’re working a lot, so we try to be absolutely ready for the beginning of the season.

“This is just the start of the pre-season so it’s just the beginning, but we know exactly where we want to go.”

Varane secured medals aplenty with Real Madrid and won the World Cup with France in 2018 – successes that must have made his first season at Old Trafford all the more galling.

A big-name acquisition alongside Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, he could not have foreseen his first season ending with United’s lowest ever Premier League points tally. “I think we know exactly what we have to do – we have to improve in everything,” Varane said.

“Wehaveambitionforthis season but also, most important, we have to work with humility. I think it’s the most important. As I said, it’s just the beginning so we have to improve in everything.”

Varane could, though, see signs of promise in Thailand asUnitedplayedwiththekind of purpose and coherence that was lacking towards the end of last season.

“We tried to keep the ball in possession and we tried to press very high on the pitch, so this is a very physical style,” he said. “That’s why we know we have to work very hard in training sessions and we try to be ready.”