Varane calls out his Man United team-mates for not applauding fans

Raphael Varane calls out his Man United team-mates for not applauding fans who had stayed behind after their hammering at Liverpool… with Steve McClaren also urging players to acknowledge the away end at Anfield

  • The Frenchman gestured for his team-mates to go and applaud the away fans
  • Manchester United’s players glumly trudged off the pitch after heavy defeat
  • Steve McLaren was also on hand to insist they acknowledge the away section 

Raphael Varane vociferously urged his Manchester United team-mates over to acknowledge the away supporters after the heavy 7-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

United’s players trudged off the Anfield turf, perhaps understandably wanting ground to swallow them up, with their heads bowed after falling to the club’s heaviest defeat since 1931. 

However, Varane and Steve McClaren, one of Erik ten Hag’s assistants, were on hand to insist they went over to acknowledge the few hundred supporters that had – bravely – remained. 

Sky Sports’ cameras after the game as the number swelled on the pitch caught Varane wildly gesturing and shouting at his team-mates to go over and applaud the supporters.

United’s supporters on social media noted Varane’s leadership skills in that particular moment, particularly amid the context of Bruno Fernandes’ oft-petulant behaviour throughout the game. 

Raphael Varane urged his team-mates over to acknowledge the away end after the heavy defeat

Varane was filmed gesturing for his team-mates not to just leave the pitch without acknowledgement of the travelling section

Varane in the footage can be seen shouting at his United team-mates, including David de Gea, as they walk past him. 

‘My big Varane, thank you for the applause, you value our time and our energy,’ one supporter said of Varane’s efforts post-match. 

In footage shared from Anfield by Laurie Whitwell, Varane and McCaren’s insistence the players make an effort became ever clearer, and indeed had a marked impact.

Standing on the touchline, McClaren urged all of the United players walking off and past him over to the away end. 

With youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia trudging off with their heads very much bowed, the former England boss pointed them in the direction of the away end.

Reports emerged recently detailing the respect and admiration that is held for the assistant by the current squad, and that was in evidence here, with both players immediately making a sharp turn to acknowledge the fast-emptying away section.

Credit for Varane comes amid heavy criticism directed in the way of Fernandes for his on-field behaviour in the defeat. 

Gary Neville, speaking afterwards, said some his petulance on the field stretched into being a ‘disgrace’.

Question marks have been raised about the validity of Bruno Fernandes keeping the armband

‘I’m going to start with Bruno Fernandes,’ a fuming Neville said. ‘I’ve had enough of him throwing his arms around at his team-mates; I’ve had enough of him not running back; he whinges at everybody.’

He added: ‘He got pushed in the chest and went down holding his face. He’s got to put a captain’s performance in out there and that wasn’t a captain’s performance by a Manchester United player.’

‘Fernandes’s body language today was disgraceful,’ fellow pundit Roy Keane added. 

‘He’s a really talented boy, he’s your captain. But his body language, waving his arms not running back, you wouldn’t be happy with him.’


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