'We had a robust discussion' - Raphael Varane lifts lid on 'very tense' relationship with Erik ten Hag at Man Utd & admits 'surprise' over INEOS not sacking Dutch coach last summer

The French defender, who joined United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, admitted that he struggled with Ten Hag’s highly structured playing style, which contrasted sharply with the more fluid systems he had previously played in at Santiago Bernabeu under Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti. Having played for multiple managers in his debut season in England - including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, interim boss Ralf Rangnick, and caretaker Michael Carrick - Varane found himself adjusting to different coaching philosophies. But when Ten Hag took over permanently in the summer of 2022, the shift was drastic.

In an interview with The Athletic, Varane said: "It was the opposite (to Real Madrid) with fairly rigid patterns of play defined in advance. There was very little flexibility in terms of adapting on the pitch. The game plans were very, very precise, with lots and lots of information. It was different."

As a defender who relied on instinct and communication with teammates, Varane found it difficult to operate in a system that restricted flexibility, which he previously enjoyed with Real and France.

He added: "We could say to each other, ‘You have to do it more like this’, instead of a system that was, let’s say, a bit blocked by the coach’s instructions."

Varane went on to say of his relationship with Ten Hag: "It was very tense at times. Sometimes he made an effort to listen to the players’ feedback. Sometimes he made decisions without listening to the players’ feelings. So there were ups and downs. It was complicated at times."

Despite their contrasting philosophies, Varane initially played a key role in Ten Hag’s first season at the heart of United’s backline. However, between October and mid-December, he started none of United’s matches, despite being fully fit. The Dutch manager attributed Varane’s absence to "tactical reasons," but the defender says he was given little direct explanation.

"We had a robust discussion. We told each other some truths, but then I didn’t play for almost two months," the 2018 World Cup winner revealed. "I said I didn’t agree with certain ways of doing things regarding the relationship between him and the team. It wasn’t something that I thought was good for the team because some of the players weren’t at all satisfied. It was not good in terms of the relationship with the coach. He said ‘OK, I hear what you said’ and after that, I didn’t play."

United’s 2024 FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City was overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag’s future. Even the manager himself admitted post-match that he was unsure if he would remain in charge after overseeing a miserable eighth-place finish in the Premier League. However, following a season review led by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, the club opted to continue with the beleagured manager.

Varane was taken aback by the decision. "I was surprised he stayed," he admitted. "The connection with the group no longer existed."

Ten Hag was eventually replaced by Ruben Amorim last October, but the managerial change has done little to revive United’s fortunes as the club currently sits in 15th place in the Premier League standings, just 12 points above the relegation zone. The battle for survival remains a real concern, with an away trip to an in-form Everton side coming up, followed by a crucial home fixture against Ipswich Town.