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Raphael Varane explains why Man Utd can win Champions League.
Raphael Varane thinks Manchester United has the ability and attitude to win the Champions League this year.
The Red Devils have had a terrible start to the 2023–24 season, losing four of their first seven Premier League games and struggling with a number of off-field problems.
In the first round of Champions League group stage matches a fortnight ago, Bayern Munich defeated them 4-3.
Despite their challenging start to the season, Varane, who won four European Cups while a member of Real Madrid, thinks United have what it takes to win it all this year.
“Yes, I think so [United can win the Champions League]. I think the qualities in the squad, as I say, that competition is difficult, you have to take care of every detail, but we have a team with quality, with a good mentality,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Galatasaray.
“Yeah, we have to make some improvements, it’s not the start of the season we expected, but I still believe we have the quality to compete with the best teams in the world.
“I think the competition is about details and you have to be efficient to win the competition. In the last weeks, I think it’s what we can improve: it’s to be more efficient in front of the goals.
“With a very low number of occasions we concede goals and we need to create a lot to score, so that’s the reality of top level, you need to be efficient to win trophies.
“I think we have the quality in the squad to play and to win that competition but we have to improve and tomorrow is a great opportunity to get the first points in the competition, to move forward and improve.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led United to a historic and unlikely comeback against PSG in 2019. Since reaching the final in 2011, United has just advanced past the round of 16.
United was defeated by Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 during Varane’s lone Champions League season with the team.