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Raphael Varane has comfortably the best aerial duel win share within the Premier League this season – a completely important trait given the profiles of a few of his Manchester United teammates.
As referenced by TNT Sports activities on X (previously referred to as Twitter), the 30-year-old’s charge of profitable aerial duels stands at a formidable 90%.
Highest aerial duel win charge within the Premier League this season:
🥇 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐞 – 𝟗𝟎%
🥈 Virgil Van Dijk – 83%
🥉 Kristoffer Ajer – 78%Rolls Royce Varane 👊 pic.twitter.com/8lphXsI8v8
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 18, 2024
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) and Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) rank second and third respectively, with 83% and 78%. Apparently, Varane’s accomplice in defence yesterday – Harry Maguire – ranks fifth within the league with a hit charge of 76%.
The Frenchman possesses an extended 6’3 (191cm) body, which he’s knowledgeable at utilising to its most to make sure he retains a top benefit over most forwards who’re pressured to cross his path.
Whereas Varane is just not essentially a robust centre-back – within the mould of Van Dijk or Maguire – he’s deceptively robust and wily in his use of refined contacts to disrupt opposition attackers’ rhythm. And although he isn’t as quick as his Actual Madrid peak, he retains sufficient velocity to be efficient in foot races.
An evaluation piece by Mark Critchley (The Athletic) earlier than Christmas, following a defensive masterclass by Varane at Anfield, revealed the true worth of a participant who had appeared to have fallen out of favour at Outdated Trafford this season.
Varane made fifteen clearances through the hard-fought 0-0 draw in opposition to bitter rivals Liverpool (solely bettered by Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) at that time of the season). 9 of those have been with the Frenchman’s head, whereas he received all 4 of his aerial duels with Jurgen Klopp’s males.
The previous Merengue was a rock on the coronary heart of Erik ten Hag’s defence at Anfield; as he was yesterday at Kenilworth Highway.
Varane made 5 clearances yesterday – greater than double any of his workforce mates. He additionally blocked two photographs, and made two interceptions and a sort out. The 30-year-old did this whereas marshalling a defensive unit which endured three enforced adjustments after simply forty-five minutes, with Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Casemiro all being withdrawn both simply earlier than, or throughout, half-time.
Varane’s skill to be dominant within the air, whereas additionally being a powerful organising affect in defence, are an important mixture for United, significantly when the aerial fragility of a few of his workforce mates is taken into account.
Regardless of being desperately unfortunate with accidents this season, Lisandro Martinez is undoubtedly Ten Hag’s first alternative defender. It’s an identical story for Bruno Fernandes in midfield, whereas the Dutchman’s entrance three of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Rasmus Hojlund is locked in at this level of the season.
None of those gamers are significantly good within the air; in truth, a lot of them are weak. Martinez, particularly, will at all times stay susceptible to excessive balls within the Premier League, regardless of Jamie Carragher’s preliminary evaluation of the Argentine growing older like milk.
Luke Shaw is robust aerially for a fullback, however his fixed points with unavailability imply his understudy – Tyrell Malacia – would have performed much more typically this season if not for his personal harm points; and the diminutive Amad Diallo will be the solely member of the Outdated Trafford dressing room who Malacia doesn’t need to look as much as.
Neither Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka are significantly good within the air, regardless of possessing sizeable frames relative to different right-backs. Equally, doubts over Victor Lindelof’s physicality will seemingly comply with the Swede so long as he stays in English soccer.
As such, a participant who wins 90% of their aerial duels is, subsequently, an important element of a workforce who battle to duplicate that sort of effectiveness elsewhere on the pitch. Which is why Ten Hag’s option to drop Varane at varied factors earlier within the season seem odder with each sport.
The Frenchman’s harm considerations are prone to have performed a job (justifiably) on this determination, given the Dutch supervisor in all probability wished to depend on the identical defensive unit throughout a string of video games, however his worth as a defender have to be accounted for when United are contemplating reinforcements this summer season.
If the membership, as anticipated, target a new centre-back to play alongside Martinez on the coronary heart of their defence, this recruit should be capable to replicate the aerial dominance of Varane (and, to a lesser extent, Maguire) if United are to stay a balanced aspect.
If the brand new defender is just not robust within the air, the aerial weak spot of his new teammates shall be additional exacerbated, and United will turn into a simple goal from set-pieces and crosses.
