Man Utd told they have their own Virgil van Dijk and can challenge in Champions League

Carrick says he's yet to speak with incoming Man Utd boss Rangnick

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Manchester United have been told that they can go far in this seasons Champions League due to the arrival of Ralf Rangnick, and it’s also been claimed by a former Red Devils star that they have their own Virgil van Dijk.

Manchester United’s defence may be currently be a weak point in their side, but a former defender at the club has claimed that they have their own Virgil van Dijk, and should challenge for the Champions League.

United have been extremely poor defensively this season although injuries to both Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane haven’t helped, and the club are without a Premier League win since October.

Ralf Rangnick has been appointed until the end of the season to steer United in the right direction as they look to rebuild following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, former United defender Mikael Silvestre’s targets are much higher than that, as he believes that they can challenge for the Champions League.

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United signed Varane from Real Madrid in the summer in the hope that the World Cup winner would be the ideal partner to club captain Maguire, but injury has seen the Frenchman sidelined.

Maguire also faced his own injury woes, and the England international has struggled to adjust back in the side since returning to fitness, and United have suffered as a result.

United are having a torrid domestic season and currently sit in tenth in the Premier League, conceding 22 goals in 13 games, but one saving grace is that they have qualified from their Champions League group.

Varane is expected back in the coming weeks and he is back in training following a hamstring injury, and Silvestre has claimed that the French star is up there with the likes of van Dijk and Sergio Ramos.

Silvestre told 888sport: “Varane is up there with Van Dijk and Ramos. He’s bringing a lot of confidence and reads the situations well, winning most of his challenges.

“You can also build from the back with him. So, his introduction to the English game has been pretty good, the only sad thing has been his two muscle strains. This has stopped him from growing and leading the team.”

With Varane’s imminent return, and the arrival of Rangnick, Silvestre also thinks that United could be a real threat in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

He explained his view that Rangnick’s style of play is perfect for Europe, and also thinks that the club should appoint him on a long-term basis, as he said: “If I had to bet, I’d say the next permanent manager will be Ralf Rangnick because if it works out well why would the club look elsewhere?

“He’s not young but he has the strength and energy to carry on beyond the next few months. He’s in the best position to take on the job as Manchester United manager.

“He has proven in the past in Germany that his method works and everywhere he’s been his teams have improved. His style of football is now the style favoured by teams who do well in the Champions League.

“If it matches up with the current players at United then they could go a long way.”

Rangnick has left his post as Lokomotiv Moscow sporting director to take over United on an interim basis, before heading into a consultancy role within the club, and brings a lot of excitement with him.

The 63-year-old is well renowned for revolutionising modern German tactics, and even inspired the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel through founding gegenpressing.

There is expected to be a lot of change at Old Trafford when Rangnick arrives, and United’s style of play could be drastically different, something Silvestre believes could be the difference in the Champions League

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