Manchester United boss Ten Hag denies rift with Rafaël Varane،
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed reports of a rift with defender Raphaël Varane.
Varane, 30, has started just one of United’s last eight games and has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford in January. Ten Hag have a track record of falling out with senior players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, but the Dutchman insists Varane’s absence from the squad is down to tough competition for places.
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“Rapha Varane? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ten Hag said at a press conference on Friday when asked about a possible fallout with the French World Cup winner.
“These are rumours. Very important player, but there is internal competition and there should be in a big club, like us.”
Ten Hag prepares his team for a tough match against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
He hopes to reunite with goalkeeper André Onana after his withdrawal from the Cameroon team due to a back injury during the international break, while Luke Shaw is available again after three months out following a muscle problem.
Jonny Evans remains out and Rasmus Højlund will undergo a late fitness test, as will Mason Mount, who was injured in training during the break.
Andre is fine. He worked out in training today, he’s fine,” Ten Hag said.
“Rasmus, it’s always a close finish. He’s training, he finished on the outside, taking very good steps and we have to wait until tomorrow and we will make a final decision.
“Luke Shaw will be available on Sunday, he will be in the team. For Jonny, he is on his way back, he is not ready for Everton, he will not be long.”
Marcus Rashford will be free to play in United’s potentially decisive Champions League match against Bayern Munich next month, after UEFA confirmed on Friday that he had avoided a two-match suspension for a red card during his recent 4-3 defeat against FC Copenhagen.
Rashford, 26, will miss next Tuesday’s Group A clash against Galatasaray in Istanbul – a match United cannot afford to lose if they are to reach the last 16 – after being sent off against Copenhagen for a foul on defender Elias Jelert.
With Rashford shown a red card for the foul, which saw the England striker catch Jelert with a raised boot on the shin, United were forced to wait for UEFA’s disciplinary committee to review the incident before deciding to the length of the player’s suspension. .
But despite having the power to extend Rashford’s suspension from the mandatory one-match ban, the board imposed a one-match penalty after deciding the misconduct only extended to a “brutal game”.
Rashford has scored just one goal in 16 appearances in all competitions for United this season, with manager Erik ten Hag saying earlier this month that the striker had failed to live up to expectations.
But with United still able to qualify from Group A with victory against Bayern at Ole Trafford next month if they avoid defeat against Galatasaray, Rashford’s availability for the match will be seen as a boost to United’s hopes. team progress.
