If the Norwegian tactician, Ole ever needed a boost, seeing France center-back, Raphael Varane back in training would’ve been a big sigh of relief.
With all four of his senior centre backs fit and ready for selection ahead of Saturday’s crucial match against Tottenham, the Norwegian now has a hard choice to make.
Harry Maguire, the club captain, has appeared progressively off the pace since returning from injury in time for the trip to Leicester.
Victor Lindelof, Varane’s replacement, hasn’t looked fantastic either, and with 11 goals conceded in their previous three games, neither player can complain if they are benched for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Perhaps it’s time for Solskjaer to unleash a Varane-Eric Bailly pairing.
What’s not to like about a Varane-Bailly partnership? Pace, power, composure, and aggressiveness, to mention a few qualities.
Yes, there is always the risk of the Ivorian losing his cool, but in Varane, he will be playing alongside a world-class defender who can talk to him and guide him through a game with authority for the first time in his Manchester United career.
During his time at Old Trafford, Bailly has worked with a variety of different center backs, but none compare to Varane’s height and pedigree.
With Bailly, Varane, Luke Shaw, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, United would have one of the fastest back fours in the league.
There are few attackers or wingers who can outpace United’s defense, and Bailly and Varane both have the recovery speed that Maguire and Lindelof lack to make up ground and sniff out danger.
This would allow them to play a high line and pin the opponent back while always attempting to get on the front foot.
Varane had his best successful years in club football when he was paired with Sergio Ramos, probably the most combative centre-back of all time.
The 2021 Nations winner cool persona, on the other hand, was a wonderful match for Ramos.
In Bailly and Varane, Solskjaer may have just that. With only three games left to save his job, Solskjaer must be bold, and benching Maguire and Lindelof in favor of Varane and Bailly would be a huge statement of intent.
Varane and Bailly have the makings of a powerful partnership that United hasn’t had since Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
If given the chance and both remain fit, Varane and Bailly have the makings of a dominant pairing that United hasn’t had since Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic left.
Nwachineke Onyeke Chekwube reporting, Obinwannem news writer/ October 29, 2021
