Manchester United fans will love Raphael Varane’s response to question about Erling Haaland ‘fear-factor’
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has revealed he knows how to stop Erling Haaland from scoring in the FA Cup final.
And the Frenchman, who will face the Manchester City striker at Wembley on Saturday, has insisted he has no fear in coming up against him.
The pair have already enjoyed two battles this season, with Haaland scoring a hat-trick in the Citizens' 6-3 win over United in October.
But Erik ten Hag's side got their revenge in January when they beat City 2-1 at Old Trafford - where they restricted the Norwegian to scraps.
And while Varane is aware of the danger Haaland possesses having scored 52 goals this season, the World Cup winner is relishing the task of stopping him - and City of their treble dream.
Speaking ahead of the FA Cup final, the Frenchman was asked whether there is a fear-factor about facing Haaland and City.
To which he said: "Fear? No. No way. Why?
"Every game is a challenge, and I like to challenge myself, like to challenge other teams too as a group as a team and the most important thing is to believe.
“I like to face big challenges, especially when something looks impossible, it's when I feel OK.
“That expectation to do something impossible, what looks impossible; when the challenge is big I feel more motivation.
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“City is a team that creates the most chances in a game, and that game in the first half [when United beat City 2-1] was very good.
“So we have to do this performance to win the cup and obviously if we have one chance we have to score, so we have to be efficient.”
Turning his attention on how he and his United teammates plan to stop Haaland, Varane declared they have to cut the supply from Kevin De Bruyne.
He remarked: "Yes, he's a very good player. We all know that, but the danger from City is everywhere.
"They are very complete. They can score from set-plays, from a possession game and from a transition game.
“As a defender, the connection [Haaland has] especially with De Bruyne [you have to watch].
"That kind of pass is complicated to defend, so we try to cut that connection.
“We know we can beat them. We have to be consistent for 90 minutes because we know that everything can change in a few seconds.”
