"We have to..." - Varane explains how Man Utd plan to stop Haaland and De Bruyne in FA Cup final
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Manchester United star Raphael Varane has shared how his side plan to stop Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne during the FA Cup final on Saturday.
The two fierce Manchester rivals face each other at Wembley, with both attempting to secure a domestic double. City have won the Premier League this season, while United have lifted the Carabao Cup.
Should they win on Saturday, Pep Guardiola's City side can go on to win the treble by beating Inter Milan in the Champions League final - an achievement that only United have achieved in the history of English football.
Guardiola has won a sole FA Cup since he joined City in 2016, and boasts an 100 per cent record in the final of the competition.
And he will hope to make it two wins out of two ahead of his side's Champions League final clash in Istanbul.
The Spaniard will be able to call upon both De Bruyne and Haaland, who were rested for City's 1-0 defeat to Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season.
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Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, will be able to call upon Varane, with the Frenchman having played three of United's last four fixtures after recovering from a month-long absence due to an ankle injury.
And speaking in a new interview, the former Real Madrid centre-back has explained what United must do to stop City's star attacking duo.
Varane on Haaland, De Bruyne
Varane told The Telegraph: "Yes, he's [Haaland] 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."
United's semi-final against Brighton saw them play 120 minutes at Wembley, before prevailing in a penalty shootout.
Varane missed the game through injury, with his fellow centre-back Victor Lindelof stepping up to score what proved to be the winning spot-kick.
With Lisandro Martinez a long-term absentee as he recovers from a broken metatarsal, the Swede could partner with Varane in the final and play a key role in helping Ten Hag's side to lift the FA Cup for the first time in seven years.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Manchester United, Manchester City, FA Cup, Raphael Varane, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Erik Ten Hag
