Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has issued a warning to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final. Both clubs head into the Manchester derby looking to register their second trophies of the season after United lifted the Carabao Cup and City won the Premier League. Haaland, who joined City in the summer from Borussia Dortmund, has been a major contributor to their success this term, scoring an impressive 52 goals in 51 games. Pep Guardiola’s team have the chance to achieve a treble this season, having also reached the Champions League final. The Red Devils are determined to prevent them from doing so, as they are currently the only English team to have ever won a treble, which came in 1999.
If United are to emerge victorious at Wembley this weekend, they must nullify Haaland – and Varane has warned the Norwegian that Erik ten Hag’s side will look to cut the supply to him from midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. ‘Haaland is a very good player, we all know that, but the danger from City is everywhere,’ Varane said. ‘They can score from set-plays, from a possession game and from a transition game. We know we have to stop them as a team and collectively as a group. As a defender, the connection, especially with De Bruyne – that kind of pass is complicated to defend, so we’ll try to cut that connection. We’ll try to stop them earlier and not at the end, because sometimes it’s too late. We know we have to be strong as a team.’