Man Utd boss Ten Hag breaks silence on Varane falling-out
Tom Weber
- Updated: 24 Nov 2023 15:45 GMT
- 3 min read
Erik ten Hag has dismissed rumours of a falling-out with Raphael Varane at his latest press conference.
Recent reports have suggested that a spat between Varane and Ten Hag had taken place prior to the international break as the defender was unhappy about losing his place in Man Utd's side to Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
The Frenchman's persistent fitness issues have seen him drop down the centre-back pecking order and the World Cup winner, unsurprisingly, has not taken kindly to this drastic change in circumstances, if reports are to be believed.
Speculation around the ex-Real Madrid man's future has been abounding for some time and Varane is reportedly once again being eyed by Saudi clubs, as he had been in the summer. Moreover, Bayern Munich and even Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the 30-year-old.
However, speaking to the media ahead of his side's clash with Everton, Ten Hag has dismissed talk of a supposed falling-out with Varane as nothing more than rumour-mongering.
What did Ten Hag say?
"Rapha Varane," Ten Hag said, "I don't know what you're talking about. It's rumours. Very important player, but there's internal competition and there should be at a top club, as we are. And when you decide on two players who do brilliant - Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire - you also have to make a choice for that position."
The Dutchman also addressed the biggest problem his side have faced thus far in the Premier League: scoring goals. "Our players are able to score goals, some have showed it already. Rashy [Marcus Rashford] scored last season 30 goals, Rasmus Hojlund scored five goals in the Champions League, that's massive. Not many players across Europe can deliver that."
"Our players are capable of scoring goals, and there will come a point they will do. As a team, it's good, we are ranked five in the Premier League for creating chances. They have to step up, they know that, you have to deal with that with the pressure and standards of Man United but our players have the abilities to score goals."
